Breaking British Rules: Amma Asante, Gugu Mbatha-Raw on the film Belle

Director Amma Asante and actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw at the Pan African Film Festival 
Photos courtesy of PAFF

During a screening of the historical drama Belle at the Pan African Film Festival Director Amma Asante and leading lady GuGu Mbatha-Raw spoke with attendees about the significance of the portrayal of Dido Belle, Britain's first member of aristocracy of African descent. Asante says her decision to write and direct the film was an attempt to give little Black girls a chance to see a reflection of themselves and change the narrative of women of color on the big screen. She describes the film as a coming of age story that forced her to think about what kind of character she wanted Dido Belle to be. 

“The tragic mulatto never crossed my mind. I’ve never met a tragic Black person yet,” Asante says. “I had to think about what it was like to walk in her shoes. There were very few more privileged than her. She was at the junction of privilege and grace, she was an outsider with more privilege than most whites and obviously most Blacks.”

Dido’s story takes place in the late 18^th century England during a time when slavery and its moral burden on society was up for debate. Her great uncle William Murray, the first Lord Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice would try a case based on whether insuring slaves as property was ethical or legal. His ruling would later lay the foundation for the abolishment of slavery in Britain which would fuel the American Revolution. The connection between his ruling and his fondness of Belle made for an interesting script. Asante says she needed someone who was a strong enough actress to carry the role.

“I needed someone who was graceful. It was someone people could believe was raised as aristocratic and craft that journey. She can pull on Shakespeare and when she stands up and says ‘I have a tongue’ it’s a very Shakespearean moment,” Asante says. “Lord Mansfield was the most powerful man in Britain. He had an active role that could have made her passive; he controlled everything. But he left her a lot of money and so did his sister. To compel human beings, at this time, to love her; even after they’re dead is a very active role”

Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays Dido Belle 

Directing a film with a woman of African descent as the lead character has always been a goal for Asante. The director was meticulous about the set design and costume choices for the period piece. She says the image of Mbatha-Raw as an aristocratic lady had to be flawless. From the wardrobe to the  color wheel, Asante said she wanted Dido Belle to embody the English rose.

“If there was going to be a woman of color front and center I had to make expensive looking, lush and beautiful. I couldn’t cut any corners,” Asante explains. “The choices of the color wheel were very important I clearly stated to my crew they were not allowed to venture outside that color wheel. You’ll see she is always captured among roses, behind roses, in front of roses or  roses will be in a vase behind her. Always, quite often, she is in rosy colors of magentas and purples, because she is my English rose.”

The painting that inspired the film Belle      

The inspiration to make the film came from a postcard with a photo of the painting of Belle that hung at Kenwood House where Dido Belle lived for more than 30 years. The challenge for Asante was balancing information. She wanted to keep the heart of story and not get lost in all the rules of English society.

“It was about putting research together and knowing rules and then you can break them. The heart of the scene has to come before rules of the period.”

Mbatha-Raw prepared for her role by learning the manners and etiquette of late 18^th century Britain. She listened to Handel and took piano lessons. As a first generation Brit of South African descent, Mbatha-Raw says she never heard the story of Belle, though she lived close to Kenwood House. After reading the script she was intrigued.

“For me it was really about the script, director and good story and the message of the piece,” she says. “I like stories that challenge culture and or push culture. I’m drawn to things that elevate culture and stories that take you on an emotional journey.”

Though the film deals with issues of race and class, the storyline is layered. Mbatha-Raw says Belle is a coming of age tale that anyone no matter race, class or gender can relate to. She says the story of an interracial child growing up in society is relevant today.

“For me and for most people the identity issue in general is incredibly relevant and the gender issue is relevant today,” the actress explains “I think the idea of your culture, being comfortable in your own skin and knowing who you are is a liberating force for the rest of your life. It’s a very contemporary story.”