The Queen (2006)

 The Queen

Stephen Frears

UK/France/Italy

“That’s the way we do things in this country; quietly, with dignity,” proclaims Queen Elizabeth II, portrayed dutifully by Helen Mirren in Stephen Frears' The Queen. As the constitutional monarch, the Queen values majesty over all else, and this is made abundantly clear in Peter Morgan’s earnest screenplay. However, it is the attributes of Elizabeth that we don’t see on the surface that come to define her character and the film.

The story centers on the death of Diana, Princess of Whales, who, as we all know, was killed in a car crash in Paris, France in 1997. At the time of her death, the story quickly became the topic of conversation. However, the film does not sensationalize the actual events, but rather portrays the crash in a montage of actual footage taken by photographers the night of her death. As a viewer, it becomes immediately clear that Frears is not going to rely on the emotion of the historical events. Rather, we are instead presented with two characters that are deeply involved in the drama, which seem at odds from the start, yet find themselves sympathetic to one another.

The film begins with the election of the Labor Party and the subsequent appointment of Tony Blair as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Blair (played for the second time by Michael Sheen) represents the modern leader, elected on a revisionist platform. By contrasting the imperial monarchy of Queen Elizabeth with Blair’s progressive rhetoric, the director is able to show us two sides of the story that surrounded the death of Princess Diana. For the entirety of the film, the director even uses different film stock when shooting each of the respective characters. The first half of the film focuses mainly on Tony Blair, and the rumblings of Great Britain becoming a Republic in the aftermath of Diana’s death. At this point in the film, it begins to feel like a political statement, railing against the English monarch and its archaic characteristics.

However, the second half of the film downshifts, revealing the Queen as a character all people can sympathize with; even those clamoring for change. After the death of Diana, the Queen feels the matter should be dealt with privately, and with dignity. Yet, her real issue with the death of the princess comes from her sense of family, and duty to her country. “Duty first, self second,” the Queen proclaims. Elizabeth feels Diana’s embarrassing divorce from her son Prince Charles, and her subsequent behavior, clearly segregated her from the Royal Family and her children. Thus, her death should not be publicly recognized as a death in the Royal Family.

The obvious reaction to the Queen’s traditional approach is to label Elizabeth as simply out of touch with the emotions of the people of her country. She continuously refuses to return from her vacation home to pay her respects, and even refuses to fly the flag at half-mast at Buckingham Palace. However, Helen Mirren’s performance allows us to feel otherwise; garnering our sympathy by revealing the human buried deep inside her. The depth of her character, at once seeming so cold and empty, comes alive with emotion and breadth. The pivotal scene comes with her chance encounter with a deer while on her vacation in the highlands of Scotland. The majesty of the animal brings the Queen to tears, and we catch a glimpse of the human inside her that is truly hurt by the events taking place in her country. She knows that she must return to her country, as it is her duty to comfort her people during this emotional time.

The death of Princess Diana created a divide within the English political institutions; a segregation that favors the emotions of the English people, and their need to grieve over the death of someone they considered one of them. After all, Tony Blair proclaimed her as the “people's princess.” However, it is Helen Mirren’s stunning performance, which brings to life the humanity of Queen Elizabeth; a side of her that many never get to see. As we all look to our leaders to be steadfast and resolute, we lose sight of the soul that makes them a human being. But the truth is they are every bit as vulnerable as we all are. The Queen, and Mirren’s portrayal of the Queen Elizabeth, reminds us that we are all human, each with a sense of pride and compassion.

Rating: 8/10

-Joshua Albrent

Next time: A review of Martin Scorsese's The Departed, winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture.