The Queen (2006)

The Queen (2006) starring Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II has got to be one of the most realistic and revealing portrayals ever of any monarch on film. Mirren effortlessly becomes Elizabeth; the few stirring weeks captured in the film tell the viewer much about the entire life of the queen as well as the nature of monarchy. Too often filmmakers, particularly those from Hollywood, project the misconception that being a royal means getting to have everything you want and ordering people around in a haphazard manner. In The Queen, Her Majesty is portrayed as addressing everyone, especially her domestic staff, with exquisite courtesy and consideration. From what I have read about the private lives of the various royal families such behavior on the part of a sovereign is much closer to the reality than any crass barking of orders. This is not to mitigate moral shortcomings; I am referring only to surface behavior, which nevertheless can and does indicate one's general attitude towards others. Elizabeth II comes across as first and foremost a servant of her people.

The film opens with the Queen having her portrait painted, sending the message that the story one is about to see is a portrait come to life. And indeed it is. It is also the portrait of monarchy in the modern world. Tradition is confronted with waves of constant change; some concessions must be made in order to survive. The scenes of the royal family "at home" almost reminded me of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette at the Tuileries--living in a gilded cage with no actual freedom or power. And yet Mirren subtly and dynamically captures the personality of the quiet little woman who embodies an ancient institution which only her presence and her dignity can salvage. What is especially fascinating is how the queen wins over socialist Tony Blair; he becomes her champion and the savior of the monarchy. It calls to mind how dedicated revolutionaries like Mirabeau and Barnave were deeply moved after meeting Marie-Antoinette and wanted to do everything they could to help her.

What is especially compelling about The Queen is that it involves events which many people today have lived through, with the main characters being a reigning sovereign and a sitting prime minister. It evoked memories of the day Princess Diana died; I remember hearing about her death after returning from Mass. I thought people were being a bit harsh on the queen even then and I saw nothing wrong with the royal family staying at Balmoral to grieve in private, although to everyone else in the world it was a major calamity. Queen Elizabeth's devotion to duty and her dedication to the vow she made to serve her people are shown in sharp contrast to Diana's futile and tragic quest for personal happiness.

I am always annoyed when people compare Diana to Marie-Antoinette, calling the Queen of France a "Lady Di before her time." Yes, they both loved children, fashion, and had many charities. But when her world fell apart, Marie-Antoinette steadfastly stayed at her husband's side, although everything in her wanted to get her family away from danger. But Louis would not leave his people and Marie-Antoinette would not leave her husband, although she had many opportunities to escape. Diana had very different ideas about duty and marriage. Marie-Antoinette would not leave; Diana did. I do not condemn Diana; she had a lot with which to contend. Queen Elizabeth II, however, is of the old school, when duty, honor, discretion and commitment came before the pursuit of happiness.