And They Lived Happily Ever After

It was 2015. Me and some girls I had met from the university library we all pratically lived at were glued to the tv screen in front of us. We knew well enough how the movie would end. The couple had finally received the father figure's blessing. The male lead had acquired a huge promotion in his career from displaying his professionalism, passion and determination over a very controversial case. And they all lived happily ever after... You know the story like the back of your hand.

When the movie had concluded, I was happy to know that the real life people the story was based upon were indeed married and had children of their own as the movie scripted. When the credits rolled, I was most surprised by how much I had wished to have a similar love like theirs one day. A healthy, stable, and respectful relationship. Rooted with genuine love that is shared between Dido Belle and John Davinier. It is true the actors and actresses did an outstanding job portraying the many emotions, gestures, and dialogue given within the movie. But it seemed like more than that to me. Something more real, or authentic was being felt by me. Something desired.

The desire to have a man glance at me the way John did to Dido whenever they locked eyes at the garden party. The way he glanced at her whenever she spoke during their discreetly planned leislure walks. How he seemed to yearn to for her company and conversation more and more throughout the film. Especially how he had he showed his respect for her.

Respect. Something so significant, yet so quietly displayed by both characters throughout the movie. What was most refreshing to me was how the respect they had for one another never appeared stagnant, never shrank back, didn't seem to waver except the occasional dramatic scene that involved status or identity. No it was quite the opposite. Their respect grew, developed, endured.

A great example of this was when Dido and Davinier were taking a stroll together and Davinier had asked Dido about her parents. Dido mentions how she had only known her father for a short time, but he showed kindness to her and left her a heiress to a fortune he had left behind after he died. With a sullen look on her face, Dido states how she did not know much about her mother, only that she had left her the color of her skin. To which Davinier smoothly replies back "at least you know she was beautiful." With the story being a historical drama/romance set in 1791 England during the time period of the mass enslavement of peoples from Africa, this was no small statement. When you also consider how Dido had a higher economic standing than Davinier at this time due to him being a clergyman, it was a pleasant surprise to see him not take advantage of her because of this. But rather encouraged her to embrace that part of her identity.

You see, I believe you can respect someone and not love them. But you cannot love someone and not respect them. I know this isn't exactly a novel idea. Regardless, individuals time and time again attempt to prove this on a daily basis do they not? Try to show, give, force, coerce, or persuade someone their boundless "love" for the other person. Thinking it will inspire them enough to confess or give into this "love" they should be able to conjure up on the same level.

No, Dido and Davinier seemed to have bigger challenges to face instead of inflating their own ego's with putting one another down due to uncontrollable circumstances such as Dido being a mixed woman, or Davinier's roots hailing from a lower status in life in that time period. Funny enough, the scenes of the two of them being tucked away from the crowd, or taking their secret strolls throughout several locations were my favorite parts of the movie. Although their world in the film was not as welcoming or tolerable of their relationship, the wanting they had for the other person was never hidden on each other.

Maybe it was the time period. Maybe it was the elements of romantic fiction. Maybe it was the well executed scenes acted out. Whatever the case, I enjoyed the innocence and maturity of the film to portray a healthy relationship between a couple that had to face opposing odds with the world, society and especially within themselves.