Judy Dench is one of my favorite actresses of all time. So I was interested in seeing her latest movie, Victoria and Abdul.
This is one of those stories that I was curious to see because I know so little about Queen Victoria other than she was a terrible monarch and looked like a bit like a villain in comparison to the current, iconic and beloved Queen Elizabeth (you know Prince William and Prince Harry’s grandmother).
Victoria and Abdul tells the true story of an unexpected friendship in the later years of Queen Victoria’s (Academy Award winner Judi Dench) remarkable rule.
The movie starts off in India beautifully photographed showing the color, the noise, overcrowded markets, you can just smell the city. Here we meet Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a young clerk travels chosen to participate in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. He travels to England with his friend Mohammed who was second choice to participate in the big event.
Even before Abdul meets Queen Victoria, you get to see Abdul and Abdul’s perspective of all the pomp and circumstance of a formal dinner served to the Queen. It’s not only funny but is beautifully photographed offering the viewer, an accurate rendition of the number of people it took to not only make the dinner but to serve it as well. There is a server for every guest and the authenticity comes through in the scene.
One also gets a view into the Queen’s dinner itself, apparently she never talked to anyone at dinner and she ate quickly. My daughter and I thought it was hilarious how the servers took up the plates of all the guests even though they weren’t finished because the Queen’s actions drives the entire meal. She done eating, they are all done eating and onto the next course.
During the dinner and presentation, shows the first meeting between Queen Victoria and Abdul which I found charming and maybe a bit unbelievable (he makes eye contact with the Queen when he was explicitly told not to do so) but let’s go with it.
Abdul is surprised to find favor with the Queen herself when he is summoned the day after the presentation.
The remainder of the movie follows the Queen and Abdul’s interactions and conversations. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle all attempt to destroy. As the friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes and joyfully reclaims her humanity as Abdul communicates his view of the world and his beloved India.
The last half of the movie not only includes beautiful scenes of the Queen’s other homes but the palace intrigue of the royal court because everyone is upset that Queen is relying so heavily on Abdul especially after she appoints him as her “munshi” (teacher.)
No one wants to lose power or standing in any era and certainly not the future King “Bertie” played with racist villainy by Eddie Izzard. There are a few surprises that throw the Queen off but she continues to adore Abdul. Of course it all has to end, right! And not well for Abdul or Mohammed.
Yes, it’s a another period piece but all in all, this is a really enjoyable movie especially the first quarter of the movie. Michael Frears “The Queen,” “Philomena,” “Mrs. Henderson Presents”) and his cinematographer Danny Cohen provide a look into Queen Victoria’s 19th century Victorian world in all it’s gorgeous glory. I do wish he integrated a bit more of the humor throughout the movie.
I definitely recommend this movie especially if you are like historical and English movies. And your teens will like it too as my teenage daughter gave the movie two thumbs up.
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Focus Features will release Victoria & Abdul in NY and LA on Friday, September 22, 2017, expanding to more theaters in the weekends following.
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom attended a screening to facilitate this review.
