Flashback Friday Post: Valentine's Day Movie Special

Instead of randomly choosing a post, I'm going to post two movie reviews that I've written.

Both of these movies are favorites of mine and are absolute must watch for any romantic at heart.

Ever After

 This is my absolute favorite movie and I have never reviewed it! It seems Cinderella Week is the best time do so. I saw this great film when I was about 7 or 8 years old and completely fell in love! It's a definite family favorite and even my brothers enjoy it. Probably what I loved the most about Ever After is that story in itself seemed very real. Every character in the story is real and personable in some way. Danielle's early childhood loss of her father and neglect and mistreatment from her stepmother, Henry's refusal to accept his position as the future king of France, Jacqueline's torn loyalty's between her mother and sister, and her friendship with Danielle, even Rodmilla's conflicting feelings are brought to light in a heartbreaking scene between her and her stepdaughter.  Ever After's extraordinary storytelling of a young woman's journey from servant to queen, darkness to light and despair to salvation rings true for any human heart.

Danielle's journey from servant to princess.

     When eight year old Danielle de Barbarac loses her father, she is left in the care of her new stepmother who wants nothing to do with her. Ten years later, eighteen year old Danielle is a servant in her own household that is deeply falling into debt and ruin. For her stepmother, Rodmilla de Ghent and her two daughters, vain and cruel Marguerite (her mother's favorite) and quiet, reserved Jacqueline they rely on the help of Pierre Le Pieu, a wealthy benefactor who has his eye on Danielle. 

     One day Danielle has an unfortunate meeting with the handsome, but rash Crown Prince Henry who is running away from his home, his life and his subsequent future as the next king of France. Danielle is rewarded for her silence with a great deal of money that can help her release her friend Maurice from being sold to the America's. While attempting to free Maurice later that day, Danielle once again runs into Henry in the palace courtyard and impresses him and the other courtiers with her educated mind and knowledge of decent human dignity. 

"So let me believe that I am someone else"

     Henry himself is equally impressed by such a young women and sets out to find out who she is. Danielle pretends to be a wealthy courtier from out of town and evades him by giving him her mother's name and proceeds to disappear. Meanwhile, Henry has issues to hammer out with his demanding father, King Frances, regarding his future as king. When his son balks at the idea of an arranged marriage, Francis makes a compromise and tells Henry that he has one week to find true love or he will make Henry's arranged marriage official at the masquerade ball he is throwing in honor of the artist in residence, Leonardo da Vinci.

     When Rodmilla receives the news of the impending ball, she wastes no time in preparing both daughters (primarily Marguerite) by any means necessary to catch the crown prince. Meanwhile, Henry and Danielle, who still has Henry believing she is a wealthy courtier, are thrown together in more unexpected (but hilarious) circumstances and in a very short space of time find themselves falling in love. Henry believes he has found true love and plans to make Danielle his wife.

     However, that's easier said than done and Rodmilla sets out to destroy Danielle in any way she can and to have Henry make Marguerite his wife. Through trial and triumphs Henry and Danielle eventually find themselves together, happily ever after, proving that the road to love is never easy, but if it is real, then it is always worth the sacrifices that life requires from us. 

     Considered the best retelling of the beloved fairy tale, Ever After has every traditional genre for everyone. History, comedy, drama and romance are all fused together to create this delightful love story. While the historical accuracy regarding the royal family of France may be off, it makes lovely portrait of the needed equality between royalty and the common man. The costumes are absolutely stunning and rich in detail. I loved every single gown that Danielle wore and this film is a definite must for any costume drama lover. 

     No matter how many times I re-watch this movie, I find myself falling in love all over again. While admiring the beautiful heroine, laughing and crying through the crown princes' coming of age story arch, loathing both Rodmilla and Marguerite, forever believing that Henry's parents are completely awesome and hoping that everyone will have friends as loyal as Danielle's and Henry's. Ever After is the story of the human heart that breaks, heals and finds the courage to love, forgive and above all live, not for one's self, but for all others around you.

A United Kingdom

 I have always believed that the best kind of stories are the real life ones we have never heard of. Then upon discovering theses true accounts we are left with a sense of amazement and shock that we were so ignorant of their existence. Especially when they changed the world. The 2016 film A United Kingdom is based on the extraordinary interracial marriage of Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana, Africa and Ruth Williams of England. History and romance are weaved together in a beautiful, heartbreaking and ultimately happy ending testimony of black v white, Africa v England and family v family that is utterly unforgettable. 

     In 1947, London, young Seretse Khama seems to be an ordinary law student from South Africa. In complete truth, Seretse is heir to Bechuanaland and future hope to the Bamangwato tribe. Seretse and his younger sister, Naledi, were orphaned as children and raised by their uncle Tshekedi Khama who acts as regent of Bechuanaland until Seretse is ready to take his rightful place as king. 

     Seretse has a great deal of pride for his royal heritage and an overabundance of love for his close family and strong people. However, Bechuanaland is under English Colonialism and ranks as the third poorest country in the world. The English living in apartheid South Africa rule the country with no regard to the natives of the land, seeing them as subhuman and 'savages' in need of saving. Seretse faces smilar prejudices and racism while in England and believes that there can never be unity between the two polar opposite people groups. 

      All those doubts dissipate when he meets Ruth Williams, a shy, but intelligent young typist who sees the world as it can be if people look past the exterior. Seretse is immediately taken with Ruth and her with him. They soon begin a secret whirlwind romance which leads to Seretse asking for Ruth to marry him. While Ruth immediately accepts, her family does not accept the relationship giving them no choice but to disown their own daughter.

     Matters only get worse when Seretse returns to his home to find his own family furious at his choice of bride which causes conflict between Seretse and his uncle, and division of the tribe. England doesn't waste time in trying to separate the young couple and soon Seretse is exiled from his country. Ruth must cope with a hostile tribe and a new baby on her own. Overtime she not only wins over her sister-in-law with her kindness and respect, but eventually the whole tribe who want her stay and fight to bring her husband home.

      Seretse and Ruth are finally reunited together, but changes must be made to secure their union is accepted by all. Seretse ends his kingship and declares the Bechuanaland is no longer a monarchy, but a free republic with the will to become a modern country to be ruled by a modern people. Seretse becomes the first president and together he and Ruth transform the once poor and destitute Bechuanaland into the Republic of Botswana. 

      Botswana is now a thriving country with a rapidly growing economy and has one of the highest standards of living in South Africa. Seretse's and Ruth's marriage changed their country and shook the world, but it was not without sacrifice and suffering. I found Ruth's name to be interesting as her own story is quite similar to that of Ruth in the Bible and her famous words, "Where you go I will go." A true testament of God's neverending truth in the lives of his people. 

     A United Kingdom is a wonderful film that opens your eyes to a history you may not have known of before, but leaves you thankful that it happened. Sereste's and Ruth's love story went beyond their own love for each other and flowed into the hearts of both Africans and the British. They found the strength to challenge the powerful, the hope to unite a proud tribe and the courage to end prejudice and hate.