Film: The Young Victoria
Cast includes: Emily Blunt (My Summer of Love), Rupert Friend (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), Paul Bettany (The Da Vinci
Code), Miranda Richardson (The Hours)
Direction/screenplay: Scott Cooper (For Sale by Owner)
Screenplay: Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park)
Producers: Martin Scorsese, Graham King, Sarah Ferguson
In brief: By 1836, 17-year-old Victoria knows nothing but the Kensington system… named after Kensington Palace, her “prison.” Victoria is the heir to the British thrown, but she’s not even allowed to walk down stairs without holding someone’s hand. Her mother controls everything she does, and Sir John controls her mother. Yet all the efforts to create a submissive future queen may have failed. With her uncle, King William, in failing health, Victoria refuses to sign an agreement for a regent to handle her duties when she becomes queen. This is only the first attempt to usurp the authority of England’s future queen. In June of 1837, when Victoria becomes queen, she is young, sheltered and vulnerable.
Suitors for Victoria’s hand in marriage seem to be coming out of the woodworks. Victoria’s uncle, King Leopold of Belgium, is pushing cousin Albert as a possible husband. He needs the British navy to help Belgium militarily. In the meantime, there are suitors closer to home, who have their own agendas. The handsome Lord Melbourne promises to be her ally, should she ever need one. Melbourne counsels her not to try and make too many changes in the status quo. When Victoria worries about the welfare of her people, he discourages that line of thinking. When Victoria tells Albert that she often feels like a chess piece, Albert tells her “Then, you’d better master the rules of the game.”
This is not the Victoria we’ve come to think of as England’s longest ruling monarch. It’s the Victoria who’s struggling to master the rules of the game. It’s the Victoria who’s struggling to know whom to trust, when all those around her have agendas of their own. Eventually she works it out, and her reign saw many improvements in the lives and welfare of her subjects. The movie depicts a time in Victoria’s life that many of us can relate to… taking on a new job and not knowing quite where to begin. While there’s plenty of regal pomp, The Young Victoria shows us more of the real Victoria.
3 popped kernels
Popped kernels for excellent script, production and acting. Great period piece.
Victoria 101
When Princess Charlotte died in childbirth in 1817, there was no longer an heir to the British throne. Not that the British royal family was short on offspring… they were short on legitimate offspring. Charlotte’s father, George IV reigned from 1820 to 1830, following the death of his father, mad King George III. George IV was succeeded by his brother, William IV. While William had 10 children with his mistress, he had no legitimate children. In a race to produce an heir, William married the 30-year-younger Adelaide, who failed in the mission. George and William had another brother, Edward, Duke of Kent, who married Victoria of Saxe Coburg Saalfeld (sister of Leopold I of Belgium). Edward and Victoria finally produced the much-needed heir, Alexandra Victoria in 1819. Edward died less than 2 years later. Victoria became queen when William died in 1837 and reined until her death in 1901. In addition to being the longest reining British monarch, Victoria was one of the most beloved.
