A True "Belle" (No Disneyfication Needed) l This painting of Dido Elizabeth Belle and Lady Elizabeth Murray attributed to Johann Zoffany inspired a screenplay and film, “Belle.” Blending history and personal growth in a time when social class outranked ethnicity, "Belle" is about blacks and women emerging from the social background to its foreground according to a New York Times article. The article further summarizes that: 'for actress Phylicia Rashad, who attended a screening this month, “Belle” is a revelation both in the historical broad strokes and the human fine grain. “You know that England abolished slavery before the United States, but you never knew how it came about,” she said. “For those of us who think we know history, we don’t.” Yet to discuss the film in terms of abolition is to narrow its scope, Ms. Rashad said. “It’s also about a father’s love for a daughter, about a young girl struggling to define who she is and about a woman who changes those around her,” she added.' Filmmaker Amma Asante, who was inspired by a postcard of the painting Misan Sagay attached to the screenplay, agrees but echoing the sentiments of many, including Ready to Blush Founder NaShara Mitchell, adds “Sometimes you have to be part of the establishment to change the establishment.” So much to unpack. BELLE is a Ready to Blush must see. Read full New York Times article here. #SmartBeauty #MeaningfulLife #Enhance #Empower #Educate #empoweredbyblush #belle #britishfilm #interdisciplinarylens #race #socialclass #socialjustice #beauty #art
