Victoria & Abdul (2017)

We had already seen the lead actress play the famous British monarch very successfully in Mrs. Brown, this was the movie that saw her take on the role again, directed by Stephen Frears (Prick Up Your Ears, Dangerous Liaisons, Mrs Henderson Presents, The Queen, Philomena, Florence Foster Jenkins). Basically in 1887, young prison clerk Abdul Karim (Bollywood star Ali Fazal) from Agra, India is instructed to travel to England for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria (Golden Globe nominated Dame Judi Dench) to present her with a mohur, a gold coin which has been minted as a token of appreciation from British-ruled India. The Queen, who has been lonely since the death of her husband Albert, is tired of her fawning courtiers, but develops an interest in and later a friendship with Abdul. She spends time with him alone, and promotes him to become her Munshi, her teacher for her to learn his native Urdu language and the Qur'an. Victoria is surprised to learn that Abdul is married, so invites his wife and mother-in-law to join him in England, they wear black Burqas, which alarms the staff of the household. While Victoria treats Abdul as a son, her favouring of him is resented by her household and inner circle, including her son Bertie, Prince of Wales (Eddie Izzard) and the Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (Sir Michael Gambon). The household plots to undermine their relationship, hoping that Abdul will be sent home. When Victoria embarrasses herself by recounting details of the Indian Mutiny that Abdul had told her, Victoria's faith and trust in him are shaken and she decides he must go home. But the following day she changes her mind and asks him to stay, she gives Abdul a bejewelled locket with her photograph. Victoria's interest in India grows, including food from the country, having a Durbar Room at her Isle of Wight home of Osborne House decorated in an Indian style, and hanging portraits of Indians in the House, and she says she intends to give Abdul a knighthood. The Prime Minister is insistent that the royal household must find a way to get rid of Abdul. They research Abdul's family background in India, they show Victoria a dossier showing that his family is more ordinary and poor than Abdul has told her. Victoria insists her doctor examine why Abdul's wife has not fallen pregnant, it is discovered that Abdul has gonorrhoea. The doctor rushes to tell the Queen, expecting her to be disgusted, but she remains loyal to Abdul and scorns her courtiers for plotting against him. Eventually the household decides that, if Victoria does not break with Abdul, they will all resign, also threatening to certify the Queen as insane. Victoria is angry about this treason, she summons the entire household to the Durbar Room and demands that anyone who wants to resign step forward, when none do so, she says she has decided not to give Abdul a knighthood, but to include him in her next honours list as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. When Victoria falls ill, she urges Abdul to return to India while she can still protect him, she warns him that the court will turn on him when she dies, but Abdul insists that he will stay with Victoria until the end of her life. Victoria dies in 1901, her son Bertie, now Edward VII, rejects Abdul, burning all the gifts and papers he has received from the Queen, and sends him and his family back to India, Abdul's wife manages to save the locket for him. Abdul is seen kneeling before a large statue of Queen Victoria in a garden close to the Taj Mahal, he talks to it and kisses its feet in respect, Abdul continued to live in India for the next eight years, until his death. Also starring Olivia Williams as Lady Churchill, Tim Pigott-Smith (in his final role) as Sir Henry Ponsonby, Four Lions' Adeel Akhtar as Mohammed, Paul Higgins as Dr. Reid, Fenella Woolgar as Miss Phipps and Simon Callow as Puccini. Dench gives a wonderfully strong performance, showing the vulnerable and spirited side of the monarch, Fazal is great as the friendly and enthusiastic Muslim newcomer who brings her out of her shell, and the other well-known faces do their part well as well. This is a little-known chapter in the final years of Queen Victoria's reign, an odd-couple friendship between a handsome servant and an isolated widow, with sharp humour and genuine emotion, a very well written comedic and dramatic script and superb costume and period detail, it is a fascinating and warm-hearted true story in the shadows of history, a fantastic biographical drama. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and Best Costume Design, and it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Make Up/Hair. Very good!

I enjoyed the first half which although embellished was entertaining and intriguing. But half way through it turned into a woman and a Muslim as the good guys contrasted with the British establishment and an anti empire rant. But then it was produced by the BBC and Stephen Frears, both liberal, progressive anti white British men types. Boring!

And her amazing accent and acting... Movie's head was confused about muslims.

This feels more like a fairy tale dream of an Indian guy who starts dreaming at the beginning of the film and wakes up towards the end rather than based on actual events which is almost confirmed by the "mostly" written along with based on real events caption at the beginning. Even though predictable the film manages to keep you entertained and is quite funny for the most part. Even though the plot or characters are not very interesting the situations are created in between which are quite funny and keeps a pleasant mood throughout. As I am trying to write anything, all I can really think about is the negative aspects which I want to defend although I enjoyed it a lot while watching.