Judi Dench turns in another fine performance as Queen Victoria in her later years. The regent has become rather bored with life until she meets a young man from India (Ali Fazal). Their close relationship brightens her outlook, stimulates new learning opportunities and opens her mind, while enraging the rest of her traditional household. The film features the expected visual splendor and stiff British traditions that we expect from these period dramas, but it’s lacking a real emotional bond (between the duo or between the audience and the filmmaker). It’s light and entertaining, but lacks any originality in the writing or much depth in the relationships. An interesting historical footnote.
(3 / 5)