The Young Victoria Grade: B
It seems as though when each new year rolls around in the world of filmmaking, there is a flurry to make the perfect period piece. While “The Young Victoria” is not perfect, it is certainly one of the best to come out this year. “Victoria” is based on the life of Queen Victoria of the House of Hanover, who reigned for 63 years over Great Britain. To this day, she is the longest reigning queen in the history of the United Kingdom – a fact that speaks to her fascinating life.
Victoria is played by a fresh-faced Emily Blunt (“The Devil Wears Prada,” “Sunshine Cleaning”). Through most of the film, Blunt portrays the Queen from her late teens through early twenties — the main period on which the film focuses. Blunt gives a touching yet quiet performance of the young queen, who was sheltered and controlled most of her life by her mother and overbearing Uncle John. She could not listen to the music that she wanted. She couldn’t even walk down the stairs by herself for fear she may injure herself and jeopardize the next in line for the throne. Blunt brilliantly plays the character innocently and, at times, manages to unleash Victoria’s bursts of immature wrath.
In addition to Blunt’s exquisite performance, the cast includes two-time Oscar nominee Miranda Richardson as Victoria’s mother, as well as a suave Paul Bettany playing the kind politician, Lord Melbourne, who advised and guided Victoria during the beginning of her reign. In a short but passionate performance, Jim Broadbent plays the fiery King William. While most of the characters are strict and have a typical English reserve, Broadbent is loud, brazenly honest and terribly lovable; his brief performance was a perfect fix amongst all the calm characters.
Through the first half of the film, it seems as though “The Young Victoria” is a coming-of-age piece, focusing on the maturity and responsibility that Victoria developed as a result of inheriting the crown at the tender age of 18. However, during this time, a subtle romance was blossoming between her and Prince Albert from Germany. Earlier in the film, Victoria and Albert meet at her home and strike up a friendship. Throughout the years, they write each other and keep in contact through letters and occasional visits. Slowly but surely, a romance is born and they become inseparable.
The handsome Rupert Friend (“Pride and Prejudice”) takes on the character of Prince Albert. Friend masters a German accent for the film and does a wonderful job balancing Albert’s quiet and romantic nature with the yearning need to prove himself. Complications in the relationship ensue when Albert finds himself wondering where he stands in the royal home. A man married to a powerful woman in those days found himself quite useless, which was certainly the case with Albert and Victoria.
In terms of historical accuracy, the film is pretty much spot-on. There are minor changes to add cinematic grandeur, but the integrity of Victoria’s life is honored.
“The Young Victoria” is nothing like films of young queens and royalty past. If you’re hoping to see something in the vein of Coppola’s glittering “Marie Antoinette” or Saul Dibb’s flirtatious and passion-ridden “The Duchess,” “The Young Victoria” is likely not for you. But if you enjoy period pieces with lovely aesthetics, deep and talented actors and a soft and slow romance, you will love “Victoria.”
“The Young Victoria” opens in D.C. theaters Dec. 18.
You can reach this staff writer at ydesta@theeagleonline.com.
