The Queen, the movie

The Queen (2006)

By Stephen Frears, with Helen Mirren (the Queen), Michael Sheen (Tony Blair), James Cromwell (Prince Philip).

August 31^st 1997, Diana dies in Paris. The week following the event could have changed British institutions. The apparent lack of feeling shown by the royal family shocked the people and pushed the four month serving Prime Minister Tony Blair into an ambiguous position. Torn between the opportunity of reforming the kingdom, and his growing admiration for the Queen, he’s going to have a lesson in power, just as Elizabeth learns about public disapproval and humility.

This masterpiece of Stephen Frears shows through a mix of fictitious pictures and television archives, an unsuspected version of vents. The presentation of the facts is obviously partial but the interpretation by the cast is outstanding. Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen are brilliant, playing two enemies learning from each other, swapping roles for a brief moment.