The remake of Seretse and Ruth�s �forbidden� love
Sharon Mathala | Friday September 18, 2015 18:00
According to its directors, A United Kingdom is the gripping interracial love story that changed the epitome of the British establishment.
History tells us that in 1947 Sir Seretse Khama, who was later to become the first president of the Republic of Botswana, was an African ‘king in waiting’ of the “Bechuana” tribal lands between South Africa and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Khama was in London studying law when he fell in love with Ruth Williams, a London ‘office girl’.
The lead actor and actress roles will be played by Nigerians, David Oyelowo (Khama) and Rosamund Mary Ellen Pike (Ruth).
The director of the movie is Amma Asante and the producer is Rick Nccallum.
Arthur January, who will be leading proceedings of the film, revealed that the first scenes will be done and directed in Palapye and Serowe.
“We will be having auditions for cast and extras in Palapye (Community hall) and Serowe (Lady Khama Community hall) on September 19 and 20 respectively. Shooting will commence from October 10 to 31 before the crew jets off to London for the other scenes,” he said.
When quizzed as to why they did not consider local actors and actresses for the two major roles of Ruth and Khama, January said, “ we did consider and look into that possibility, but we wanted the film to have a larger audience, hence we had to look for the best of the best.
We know of guys like Donald Moalosi and others, but we had to make the best decision possible so that the movie has the international weight it deserves.”
The premier of the movie, which is said to be the first of its magnitude in Botswana, is schedule for next year’s independence eve.
The movie is based on a book written by Susan Williams titled Colour Bar, with the script based on Khama’s “forbidden” involvement with Ruth. The scripts depict how the timing of their love story could not have been worse for racialist Southern Africa.
Khama proposed marriage to his white sweetheart just at the moment when South Africa, was setting up the mechanism of apartheid.
“A United Kingdom is one of the greatest love stories in history, set against the end of the Empire and the birth of African independence and at a time when it was unthinkable for any black man to marry a white woman.
“It is the story of the first President of Botswana and the woman he risked everything to love - the story of two people so much in love that they shaped a country with it. “This is a story of determination, courage, honour and justice, in the face of a political powerhouse and a love that simply refused to die - a love that is said to have changed the world,” said January..