Elizabeth

A movie by Shekhar Kapur

With Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Fanny Ardant, Joseph Fiennes and others

Christina says:

England in the 16^th Century. Mary I. is queen. The followers of the new Church of England, established by Henry VIII, have to hide or live in exile. The Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston) controls the court and the queen. But the end of the catholic reign is in sight. Mary doesn’t have an heir and can’t make up her mind to execute her protestant half-sister Elizabeth.

When Mary dies and Elizabeth succeeds her on the throne her kingdom is in grave danger. Her prime minister Sir William Cecil (Richard Attenborough) urges her to marry the king of Spain or the Duke of Anjou, brother of the French king. But Elizabeth can’t decide to enter a loveless marriage. Her half-sister married the king of Spain to secure her reign, and he proposed to Elizabeth even before the death of his wife. She can’t marry her lover Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes) because he already is married.

Cate Blanchett delivers an excellent portrait of the young Elizabeth who finds herself in a hopeless situation, resists all attempts to be used as a political pawn and in the end recreates herself – as the Virgin Queen, an icon to replace the Virgin Mary in the hearts of her people. She shows Elizabeth hesitating and afraid when faced with the difficult decisions she has to make and with attempts on her own life, but also exuberant when she dances a scandalous Volta with her lover in front of the assembled court, defying all protocol or when she exposes her prospective husband from France, who ridicules her.

Director Kapur shows the flagrant contradiction of the rural idyll Elizabeth lived in as a princess and the gloomy world of the English court. He explains what Elizabeth had to give up: a not completely safe but relatively carefree existence. She, however, doesn’t obey without resistance. Her rebellion is symbolized by the courtly dances: she chooses her own partner and acts much too provocative for a queen.

Her rise to power is supported by Lord Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush). After his mild and confused part in SHINE Rush plays the inscrutable and merciless aide to the queen who encourages her to ruthlessly pursue her enemies.

Once it is in her hands Elizabeth will not relinquish control. Against Walsingham’s advice she spares her lover Dudley after he conspires with Spain. Friendly but firmly she sends her first advisor Cecil into retirement. And then she is ready to lead England into her Golden Age.

Shekhar Kapur has created a complex portrait of a fascinating historical figure. The movie deserves to be watched more than once.

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Christina Gross

Last changes: 01/04/03