Belle, 3 Stars

This is a lovely film and I would see it again. It has much the same 'feel' and look as Amazing Grace, which was about the same subject - the slave trade in the 1700's.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw, whom I'm not familiar with, gives a very good and wide-ranging performance, as does Sam Reid who also appears to be new. But the 'glue' for the film is Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty) who, once again, gives a measured and deliberate performance - he dominates each scene he is in and the movie is better for it.

The story flags at times and could be shorter, but it is well worth seeing and I recommend it.