Going to London to see the Queen…
Well, we may not have been able to travel to London with my parents this past week, but we did get to take a little vicarious flight of fancy via a really good film. It’s a delight–and such a gift of the modern age–to see beautiful things reproduced on the canvas of a screen, and while the pickings are generally quite slim–at least as far as new releases are concerned–it’s heartening to know that if you wait patiently enough, a lovely movie just might come to a theatre near you! 😉 Good, true and beautiful films are certainly among my loves, but my criteria is really tough. And the ones that make it I’m devoted to for life.
Such will be the case with the brilliant rendering of the early days of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, The Young Victoria. We saw it Saturday night and were completely swept away. It’s visually gorgeous, with enough panning views of Kensington and Buckingham palaces to make the heart ache–and enough curls and shimmering gowns to make me loathe the wide-legged pants and leather boots I’d worn that night. But it was the legendary romance between Victoria and Albert that struck the real chord with me. I loved seeing them as I’d always imagined them to be: Victoria’s queenly will yielding to the patient tenderness of the man she already loved; Albert’s caution and respect as he awaited the proposal that could only come from her. It was just so gentle, so restrained, that I could hardly believe I was watching a twenty-first century movie.
I think it scored pretty well in terms of historical accuracy in other ways, too, with a few embedded hat tips to current scandals and a nearly verbatim (and painful) speech on the part of King William. (But, no, alas! Albert did not actually take a bullet for his bride, as much as he may have tried to shield her from a would-be assassin. A romantic modification of fact which, I for one, am totally alright with.;)) I liked seeing Victoria come to terms with the value of her husband’s participation in her reign, an arrangement that was not by any means a matter of course, and portrayed in the film almost without words in one eloquent moment of camera artistry. And I loved that Victoria herself was depicted as just as impassioned as one might hope such a famous and influential queen would be–and just as imperfect as any woman is. A work of genius on the part of the actress, Emily Blunt, in my humble opinion.
And that opinion may not be worth much to the masses, for Philip and I had the theatre entirely to ourselves Saturday night. But I am not of the masses, any more than my gentle readers are ;), and so I know I’m in good company when I recommend such an altogether delightful film. It’s refreshingly slow. But there was not a moment that I was not riveted.
I’ve not heard of this movie before, but it looks absolutely scrumptious! I have a beautiful coffeetable book about Victoria and Albert that I bought several years ago, and their relationship has always captivated me. Have a blessed day in the Lord!
I was recently awarded the Happy 101 Blog award and the rules ask that I nominate ten of my favorite blogs. I’ve included you in that line-up of favorites. Please visit my blog at http://www.xanga.com/pennyannpoundwise to copy and paste the award to your blog or sidebar. And thank you for inspiring me and making my blog reading day happier!
Terri
How kind of you, Terri! Thank you so much! I am so happy that you have enjoyed my site. 🙂
i have heard of this movie, but am always understandably skeptical. i will now make a point of watching it-thank you.
by the way, this coming sunday night on pbs there is a new adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma-i am very excited! i hope you can see it also. 🙂
Thank you! Sounds like a lovely movie to share with my daughter. Sounds like “girls night out”!
Hello, Marsha! 🙂 I don’t know how old your daughter is, but I think it bears mentioning that there *is* a ‘wedding night’ scene in this movie…However, it is so sweet and pure, and in my mind, healthy, that if I had a teenaged daughter, I would not have any problem with her watching it…
Blessings,
Lanier
Lanier! You have singlehandedly been the cause of loss of a few hours of my beauty rest! 😉 I saw this post yesterday, and of course had to go find out if and when and where it was playing in our area… then convinced my mother to accompany me to one of the two showings I found… we were the only ones in the theater at 10:40!… and oh, my, it was delightful. I knew it would be because you said it would be; and it did not disappoint. So I may be yawning a little today, but it was well worth it. Thanks for sharing!
I heartily apologize for the loss of sleep, Jeanne! 😉 But I am *so* happy that you were able to see it and that you liked it. I want to go and see it again…
Hello again… I was just noticing that joanna had mentioned the new Emma that will be airing on PBS this Sunday. I discovered yesterday that you can watch Masterpiece Theater on the PBS website; apparently episodes are up for a month or so after originally airing. Currently they have Return to Cranford (another wondermous adaptation!) available, and Emma will be up next week.
I guess the only reason this means anything to me is that we don’t have TV reception, so this is the only way I’ll be able to see the program. But see it I will! I am on British-Literature-Film overload! ha.
I have been wanting to see this film and now with your wonderful review I will see it soon! Maybe this evening as my husband and I are going to dinner, and perhaps a movie! Thank you for your review!
Dear Lanier,
You have so piqued my interest with your sensitive insights into this film! Prince Albert and Queen Victoria hold a place in my heart, if for no other reason, because of the Christmas tree, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Also, back toward the end of December, your lovely a capella Christmas music led me to search your music category. I discovered your Sull’aria, and have been wandering in operatic bliss since. How pulling out my recordings of the famous sopranos has colored my January! Renee Fleming…Marie Callas…Renata Tebaldi…Cecilia Bartoli. I found this wonderful, slower Fleming-Bartoli rendition of Sull’aria on YouTube, but am not sure that I don’t love the sweetness of yours just as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLtqZewjwgA Thank you for starting me on this beautiful way to begin 2010. It began here. You’re a sweetheart. And an enriching influence. You know that those are few and far between.
When I was a little girl, Queen Victoria was one of my “heroines” – I read every biography I could and I SO wanted to be life her in as many ways as possible, most of all in her faith and her happy marriage and nine children! *Smile!* This film sounds delightful, so maybe it’s time to renew my acquaintance with Queen Victoria!
This sounds perfectly delightful, sweet friend. As another who is not “one of the masses,” you have nearly convinced me it would be beneficial to skip another night of packing and head straight to the theater. 😉
This hasn’t come to theaters near me, BUT I just found out that it is being released on DVD in Canada on April 20 and pre-ordered a copy thanks to your recommendation, Lanier! I am so excited to see this and have a few friends who are eager to borrow it or watch it with me as well 🙂 .