The Queen

The Queen (Stephen Frears, UK, 2006) ★★★★

In “Mrs. Brown” and “Elizabeth,” Queen Victoria and Elizabeth were carrying great responsibilities of affecting the future of the nation by the period and the environment. But in the political situation which the Congress is superior nowadays, what kind of duty and position that make people care and respect exactly does the Queen have?

Elizabeth II has been being as a queen over 70 years, She had to face the challenge of World War II by the time she just succeed to the throne and was still young. But to the people today, she and the royal members are like an unfathomable mystery. No one also remembers which great achievements she has done for the nation. And this film uncovers this mysterious veil, awakes people’s identification to the divine mission.

When Princess Diana, who was loved by the public, died in an accident after finished her relationship with the royal family, the biggest crisis of the royal family in recent years came along. Due to the traditional rules, Diana hadn’t had the qualification for public memorial ceremony. But the media kept make it exaggerated, and the newly arrival prime minister Blair tried to use this opportunity to raise his prestige. It made the absolute silent royal receive a strict critical consensus.

The Queen felt jealous that her time as a queen for over 70 years is even inferior to a princess last only more than a decade. But after observing the changing of the situation, her faith follows the tradition also began to shake. The royal turned their strong attitude to compromise within a week. The influence of media nowadays couldn’t be more obvious. It also symbols an alternation of the old and the new powers.

Peter Morgan’s precise screenplay plus Stephan Frear’s direction perfectly combine dramatic and realistic that this film should have. Helen Mirren exquisitely express the strength when facing the outside and the fragility when self-questioning, even with the compassion for animals. Finally makes people feel being closer to this prominent figure. Michael Sheen also performed Blair’s charisma when dealing with politic affairs and negotiating with the Queen brilliantly.

A leader of a nation shall not be blindfolded. Elizabeth II may be forced to change the tradition by the current, but she knows her own mission and the attitude to match with situations very well. Maybe through this film, people will turn their point of view of depreciating the royal to see the Queen as a worth respecting leader gradually, just like Blair did.