A United Kingdom, starring David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike, will open the 60th BFI London Film Festival in October. This film tells the true story of Seretse Khama, King of Bechuanaland, a former English colony in Africa that would become Botswana, and Ruth Williams, the London office worker he married in 1947 in the face of fierce opposition from their families and the British and South African governments.
The movie will open the fest on Oct. 5 at the Odeon Leicester Square cinema. There will be a live cinecast from the London event and simultaneous screenings at cinemas across the U.K. Botswana should be proud for inspiring a film of such contemporary relevance, one that celebrates the triumph of love and intelligence over intolerance and oppression.
As much as there is no local cast on the movie, we can only console ourselves that they are telling our story. There is hope that Botswana will be put on the map as people will pay attention to our rich history. It only motivates us to stand up and tell our story the best way we know how.
