Film and TV

Film Review: The Young Victoria (PG)

By Kim Francis
March 05, 2009

We Brits have always been known for our costume dramas and the latest period spectacle – produced by The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, no less – to hit cinema screens is The Young Victoria, which paints a portrait of Queen Victoria as a young woman.

The Julian Fellowes-scripted film takes us through her early years as she struggles against being forced to sign her rightful sovereignty away and documents her efforts to resist the oppressive Royal protocol of the time while depicting her first meeting with Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) and their consequent love affair.

As with many period dramas, it is the sumptuous costumes and sets that are the stars, along with the spectacular locations.

See more film trailers on getreading.co.uk

Enhanced by director Jean-Marc Vallée’s dynamic filming style, which brings an extra dimension of richness to the proceedings, The Young Victoria looks exceptionally pretty with much of the film’s dramatic moments heightened by Vallée’s contemporary techniques.

For example, he will suddenly and sharply bring specific characters into focus, creating a sense that characters within the Royal household, particularly Victoria herself, are constantly under observation. It also gives a modern sense of immediacy.

His use of mirrors also conveys this, as well as injecting the film with a sense of duplicity; in other words, that those around the young queen are not to be trusted.

Emily Blunt’s performance as Queen Victoria brings out the young sovereign’s feistiness and playful side. Both Blunt and Friend bring a human touch to these two historical figures, with Friend quiet but dignified, strong and independent.

The cast is rounded out with some able supporting players including Jim Broadbent, Miranda Richardson, Paul Bettany, Harriet Walter and Mark Strong.

The Young Victoria has a mostly light-hearted feel with the scheming of Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong) and Victoria’s mother, The Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson) never so ominous that the threat of tragic consequences is ever felt.

In addition, the story is said to be fairly historically accurate, unusually, save for the ridiculous invention of Albert throwing himself in front of a bullet to save Victoria – a betrayal perhaps of Martin Scorcese’s involvement.

While The Young Victoria might be ultimately little more than a gorgeous-looking, history-based, fluffy romance, it commendably brings a new perspective to historical figures that are widely regarded as stuffy and two-dimensional, giving an insight, fictional or otherwise, into what they might have been like as human beings.

| Submit Comments