Belle

Name: Belle
Genre: Drama
Released: May 2, 2014
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Emily Watson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Matthew Goode, Miranda Richardson, Tom Wilkinson

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 46 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 46 Ratings

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Belle

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: May 2, 2014 | PG

Starring: Emily Watson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Matthew Goode, Miranda Richardson, Tom Wilkinson

Summary: Belle is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle the illegitimate mixed race daughter of Admiral John Lindsay. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield and his wife, Belle's lineage affords her certain privileges, yet her status prevents her from the traditions of noble social standing. While her cousin ElizabethBelle is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle the illegitimate mixed race daughter of Admiral John Lindsay. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield and his wife, Belle's lineage affords her certain privileges, yet her status prevents her from the traditions of noble social standing. While her cousin Elizabeth chases suitors for marriage, Belle is left on the sidelines wondering if she will ever find love. After meeting an idealistic young vicar's son bent on changing society, he and Belle help shape Lord Mansfield's role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England. [Fox Searchlight]… Expand

Director: Amma Asante

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 104 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

McClatchy-Tribune News Service Roger Moore

Apr 29, 2014

Beautifully cast, touchingly played and handsomely mounted, Belle is as close to perfect as any costumed romance has a right to be. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

May 8, 2014

Belle is a beautiful period piece, but it's also something more: a study of racism, classism and sexism in 18th-century England. Read full review

Joe Williams

May 15, 2014

With stately surroundings and hissable villains, director Amma Assante imbues the finale with such dramatic resonance that Belle becomes a ringing proclamation of human dignity. Read full review

Jeff Baker

May 17, 2014

What's best about Belle is the performance of Ebatha-Raw. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Glenn Kenny

May 2, 2014

The movie is intelligently written and well-acted, but it doesn’t sit all that comfortably between the two stools of Austenesque Romance and Socially Conscious Drama. Read full review

Mike Scott

May 23, 2014

Still, it's all enjoyable enough, playing out like a cross between "Pride and Prejudice" and "Amistad" -- and a welcome change of pace for those trying to avoid the radioactive spiders and time-traveling mutants that have otherwise invaded the summer movie season. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Apr 29, 2014

Closer to a special episode of "Diff’rent Strokes" than to "12 Years a Slave," the movie seems to exist to give its white characters belated moments of conscience. Read full review

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User Reviews

amboy

Jun 5, 2014

A totally absorbing fact based story about a young black woman adopted into an upper class British family. The leading actress has to play against some of the leading actors of British film, and she more than holds her own with an exquisitely modulated and deeply felt performance. The filmA totally absorbing fact based story about a young black woman adopted into an upper class British family. The leading actress has to play against some of the leading actors of British film, and she more than holds her own with an exquisitely modulated and deeply felt performance. The film looks wonderful and avoids both sentimentality and high minded preachiness. I am not surprised so many viewers love it.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

fuzzynavol

Feb 7, 2015

I hate to be sappy, but for me, the thing that usually separates simply good independent films from must-see independent films is whether or not you fall in love with the characters. Belle is an absolute must-see.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

VKN

May 27, 2014

This movie is beautifully written and appropriately casted. I was mesmerized by the language and depth of each character. It certainly presented a different perspective on the slave trade and slave relationships with their captors.
The fact that this was taken from a real life Belle isThis movie is beautifully written and appropriately casted. I was mesmerized by the language and depth of each character. It certainly presented a different perspective on the slave trade and slave relationships with their captors.
The fact that this was taken from a real life Belle is even more enlightening because so many of our (Blacks or African Americans/ Mulattoes) stories have not been told or told accurately and in such beautiful detail against the back drop of a dysfunctional wealthy European family.
I enjoyed it very much and can't wait to share it with my students this fall.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

foxgrove

Jun 20, 2014

Whilst not carrying the gravitas attached to such films as 'Lincoln' and '12 Years a Slave' this is still an engaging and substantial period drama distinguished by a good solid story forthrightly told. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is excellent in the lead as the illegitimate daughter of a West IndianWhilst not carrying the gravitas attached to such films as 'Lincoln' and '12 Years a Slave' this is still an engaging and substantial period drama distinguished by a good solid story forthrightly told. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is excellent in the lead as the illegitimate daughter of a West Indian slave who is raised by her white Grandfather, Lord Mansfield, at Kenwood House. She is well supported by the rest of the cast, but in particular Sam Reid, and the always reliable Tom Wilkinson as the afore mentioned Lord. Based on a true story it is intelligently written, never boring and also contains more than a few scenes that powerfully stir the emotions. Production design and costumes are beautifully rendered and Rachael Portman's ever present score adds atmosphere, even as it laces the drama like treacle over a pudding.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Brent_Marchant

May 16, 2014

A beautiful, well-written period piece that examines how various rigid social conventions can be overcome by those determined enough to see change implemented. Inspiring without being cliched, "Belle" shows how courageous, idealistic individuals were able to bring about change in their livesA beautiful, well-written period piece that examines how various rigid social conventions can be overcome by those determined enough to see change implemented. Inspiring without being cliched, "Belle" shows how courageous, idealistic individuals were able to bring about change in their lives -- and their society -- simply by being true to their convictions -- and themselves. Well worth a look.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

Bellenoise

Oct 8, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Right. I have an interest in religious history and I don't think that was very common. Very touching story non the less. Bells are usually working class, sometimes with north south ancestry and usually it's Latinos. It's a common American nickname for working women and women in industrialized sciences. The Belles would have been involved in agriculture, mining, and in recent history the phone operators would have been belles, Just to say a slight misuse of an American reference and once again trying to whereas African history into American history. In real life, being bi-racial is not encouraged for health reasons, historically mixed raced groups would have been associated with petty crime groups, it's still associated with organize crime and trying to look white in white circles and it was really not encourage to be bi-racial. Criminals in a stolen home more like it.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

beingryanjude

Jan 18, 2015

Gugu Mbatha-Raw's screen debut as Dido Belle is impressive amidst the beginning of the end of slavery in Britain. If only Belle featured a tighter script and deeper focus on society.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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