Budget: 10.9 million
Box Office Income: 16.5 million
This film tells a dramatic story of a Jamaican girl, born of mixed color, being raised under the roof of a very powerful white family. This story becomes an icon for history because this woman was not brought into the house as a slave or servant, but instead as one of their own, white and wealthy. Overall, this film remains true to history and its basis is rooted in facts. However, it does have its changes and additives in order to create a storyline and capture the audiences attention.
We begin the movie with Lord Mansfield accepting Dido Elizabeth Belle into his home as a young girl, then we are swiftly moved to the later years of Belle's life. The first major event that captures the viewers attention and clearly points out the controversiality of Belles existence in the home is when Lord Mansfield has guests over for dinner. Lady Elizabeth, who is Belle's cousin and white, is allowed to dine with the family and guests, while Belle is told she is not. This of course is customary and tradition, but it leads to the question of what traditions are meant to be broken and which aren't. The producers add a very powerful quote from Belle stating, "How am I too high in rank to eat with the servants, yet to low in rank to eat with the family." This quote can be described as the whole basis of Belle's existence and the general question the movie is trying to answer.
The movie, along with the main point of Belle, also focuses on the Zong slave ship case. There is no evidence that connects these two events other than Lord Mansfield who was the judge for the re-opened case. In the movie we see the progression of Belle's interest and influence towards the final decision by Mansfield to side with the insurers. This is the largest gap in historical context because there is also no evidence that Belle had any influence over Mansfield's decision or even cared to look into the case. It is said that over the course of Belle's stay at the Mansfield home, she likely had some influence on Lord Mansfield's views of slavery and equality.
Overall the movie gives great historical context to its main two points, Belle and the Zong slave ship. The storyline in which they provide this evidence is lingers with a mixture of both facts and additives for effect. Not only was this a very historically filled movie, but it was also a very well written and moving one. This movie checked both boxes by creating a historical film that could also be popular at the box office. Historically I rate this movie a 6.5/7 and entertainment wise I give it a 7.5.
Works Cited
"Taking a few liberties with the story of Belle" Maria Puente, USA TODAY Published 12:55 p.m. ET May 5, 2014 | Updated 1:04 p.m. ET May 5, 2014 https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/05/05/belle-true-story-movie-details-changed/8419041/
"Belle" Anabel Alfonso and Abigail Jones. Afterlives of Slavery. https://afterlivesofslavery.wordpress.com/film/belle/
"Historian at the Movies: Belle Reviewed" History Extra, BBC History Magazine. June 2nd, 2014. https://www.historyextra.com/period/historian-at-the-movies-belle-reviewed/
I am glad to finally see a movie on this blog that is historically accurate! I am glad that you pointed out the Zong slave ship case in this movie. A lot of people wouldn't have noticed it or tied it together how you did. I really need to watch this movie!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Marlea on this one, I'm super happy that this movie reflected history in a true and accurate manner. I like how you pointed out that the movie changes up and adds thing in it for a storyline, which is true to a lot of movies. It is important that the writer of a movie makes sure it is historically accurate, but still keeps the audience engaged and interested in the movie. After reading your blog, you gave a really good overview of not only the movie, but shows how times were back then in that time. I like the quote you added of what Belle said in the movie, which is so powerful because traditions are eventually meant to be broken. I also like how you pointed out the Zong slave ship, and how it correlated to the movie. After reading this blog, I think this is a movie I need to get myself to watch when I have time!
ReplyDeleteHaving just watched a movie with diminished historical accuracy it is refreshing o know that this movie is out there. I have seen the trailer before this class, but now I am much more interested in the movie knowing it will actually reflect history.
ReplyDeleteAs a multimedia major, I know that often times details are changed to create an engaging story for viewers. However, I like that you stated it maintains historical accuracy. Many times changes are made without keeping that in mind. I think it is important that they showed she wasn't allowed to dine with the family but also not with the help. You mentioned she was acting as the general question and I think that is the perfect visual.
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