A United Kingdom (2016), directed by Amma Assante

Based on a true story of a romance between a middle class English girl and an African chief, A United Kingdom shines a light on the politics of post-colonial Britain. Ruth Williams met Oxford law graduate Seretse Khama in 1947 and fell hard for him, only to find he was the king of Bechuanaland – a UK protectorate in the shadow of apartheid South Africa. The couple met opposition to their marriage at every turn, from their families, from British authorities and in Seretse’s tribal homeland. They faced separation and years of exile, with Seretse forced to give up his royal heritage to retain his wife and family. Rosamund Pyke and David Oyelowu have the chemistry to make Ruth and Seretse’s relationship totally convincing and the film is beautifully shot. The couple overcame all obstacles to help Botswana to independence and prosperity and Assante does a good job of highlighting a little-known African success story.