Shazana RoseliThe premise behindThe Queen is simple. 
Then again, it’s a simple story that answers a question many have been pondering: What, exactly, happened within the walls of The Buckingham Palace when Princess Diana died?
The Queen, directed by Stephen Frears (Dirty Pretty Things) and starring Helen Mirren (Queen Elizabeth I), Michael Sheen (Kingdom of Heaven) and James Cromwell (The Longest Yard), tells the story of the week following the tragic and sudden death of Princess Diana on Aug 31 1997.
British director Frears, who also directed High Fidelity, takes his viewers on a behind-the-scenes look at what happened among the British Royal Family and the government when news breaks about the untimely death of “the people’s princess”.
When news spreads like wildfire about Princess Diana’s death, thousands of mourners wait anxiously for a word a two from their Queen. Bound by tradition and her determination to remain strong, the Queen, played by Mirren, who got a Golden Globe Best Actress nomination for this role, is torn between what she was brought up to believe and what the people of today are demanding from her.
She decides that keeping the matter private and within the family would be of best interest, a decision leading to a string of nasty headlines from the British press. Respect for the Queen slowly begins to disappear. In a tug of war between tradition and a modern society, we watch while the Queen tries to make it a win-win situation.
This is when the prime minister of Britain, Tony Blair, comes into the picture. Fresh in the Prime Minister’s seat, Blair, played by Sheen, finds himself caught between his great respect for the Queen, his determination to lead a modern England and his goal to mellow down the press and their harsh headlines. Will his decision to make Diana’s funeral a big, public affair be just what the people of England need?
Biographical in nature, this drama manages to punch some intelligent humour and get its audience laughing at how the poise Queen smirk at the awkward and sometimes, ridiculous ways people behave around her, including the Prime Minister. Frears also keeps his audience reminded that, even though this is a movie, what happened is real. Much effort was made to make this movie as realistic as possible, from including real footage of Diana’s death to scripting the exact sentences of the Queen’s public speech.
Though a little slow paced, the film offers a different perspective on political issues, the systems of democracy and monarchy, and of course, the titular character herself. So, catch The Queen if you feel like indulging in some smart political humour or simply if you’re curious as to what happened after Princess Diana’s death.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Movie Details
Opens: January 4
Runtime: 104 minutes
Cast: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell
Director: Stephen Frears