film review: the young victoria
The Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend and Paul Bettany, is an inviting look at the tumultuous first few years of Queen Victoria’s ascension to the throne. The film begins with Victoria as a rebellious seventeen year old who is reluctant to sign a regency order that is being forced on her by her mother’s comptroller, Sir John Conroy. But the story moves swiftly on to her coronation, blossoming friendship with Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany) (who was the Prime Minister at the time), and through to her first few years on the throne. There is much speculation early on about who will win Victoria’s heart first, which is illustrative of the way in which the male members of the royal family and the upper class assume that, as a female, love will be her weakness.
Her cousin, Prince Albert from Germany (Rupert Friend) is introduced to try and sway the young princess’ heart, although they quickly form a much deeper friendship than anyone anticipated. The relationship is furthered through their correspondence, although Albert becomes frustrated that his absence leads to an inability to compete for the attention and advice of Lord Melbourne.
Queen Victoria’s early mistakes shake her confidence somewhat, as she learns that her actions impact every turn, and she has to manoeuvre herself through the political minefield. It is from these frustrations that she turns to Prince Albert for comfort. They fall in love and marry, and he begins to assert himself in matters of the palace, which leads to friction between the newlyweds. Victoria’s eventual decision to have Albert reigning alongside her is a pleasantly appealing resolution, showing the audience how much they loved and respected each other.
It’s easy to see why Emily Blunt was chosen to play the young queen. The appeal lies in her calm and collected exterior, which she’s able to shake off at a moment’s notice to exert the monarch’s commands with force and emotion. Rupert Friend as Albert is a quiet but assured man who sees Victoria as a woman, and not as a pawn to be played with, while Paul Bettany is brilliantly charming as Lord Melbourne, who hides his manipulation of Victoria’s youth easily and comfortably.
The film’s portrayal of Victoria is heavily laden in symbolism. Dressing Blunt in pastel, girlish colours before she becomes queen, and filming her reflection in mirrors, is an obvious illustration of how Victoria is seen by the household and society, rather than how she would like to be seen. Albert and Victoria’s initial meetings are also filled with metaphor, as she talks about how much she feels like pieces of a chess game. Albert advises her to find a man who can play the game with her, and not for her, which further strengthens the picture being painted about how domineering the men in Victoria’s life were.
The Young Victoria is a glorious look into a brief period in history where love and power went hand in hand. The romantic story and the political story are nicely balanced throughout, and Blunt’s charm as Victoria is irresistible. With a compelling script and beautifully rich costumes and sets, this film is a must see for fans of period pieces.
