The Queen (2006) * * * *

 

Directed by:  Stephen Frears

Starring:  Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Alex Jennings, Helen McCrory, Sylvia Sims, Roger Allam

The sudden death of Princess Diana in August 1997 posed a grave challenge to the British royal family unlike anything prior.   Diana was beloved throughout the world, dubbed "The People's Princess" by newly elected Prime Minister Tony Blair (Sheen), and Queen Elizabeth II (Mirren) wanted to conduct her life as it were business as usual.   The longer Elizabeth did not make a statement or fly the flag at Buckingham Palace at half-staff (even though she was vacationing at Balmoral), the more public opinion turned against her.   The Queen is about a week in the life of Queen Elizabeth in which traditions were forced to bend to public will.  

Diana, divorced from Prince Charles at the time of her death, was no longer an HRH (Her Royal Highness) and thus didn't qualify for a royal funeral.  Blair senses the national mood more clearly, and urges Elizabeth (with support from Prince Charles), to hold a public funeral and to make a statement.  Prince Charles stresses that the monarchy must evolve into more modern thinking in order to avoid ceasing in relevance, but Queen Elizabeth stands firmly in her resolve.  Not because she's queen, but because this is how such matters have always been handled, and who is anyone to break with past practices?

Helen Mirren won an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance, and it is a masterclass in internal conflict while maintaining an opposite public face for her subjects.  She is part of the "stiff upper lip" generation, however, the movie written by Peter Morgan provides nice human touches.  Queen Elizabeth not only drives along the Scottish highlands, but she's a decent mechanic when one breaks down.  We learn she worked as a mechanic in her teens during World War II.  But, she is struggling with how to handle this unprecedented situation with Diana's funeral while trying to control the public's perception. 

Michael Sheen has played Tony Blair numerous times in various productions, and here plays a fresh, wide-eyed, newly elected prime minister who underestimates Queen Elizabeth's resolve.   He is not anti-monarchy, per se, but he agrees with Prince Charles that a modernization is in order.   This is until he watches Queen Elizabeth's public statement on tv delivered with poise, grace, and intelligence.  At that moment, he is converted to a Queen Elizabeth supporter.  "She's a survivor," he marvels as his wife Cherie, a staunch anti-monarchist, (McCrory) rolls her eyes.  

The Queen remains gripping throughout, not only as a historical document of a landmark week in history, but how the people involved change and evolve before our eyes.   I feel after watching The Queen that I've gained a more intimate understanding of the royal family, which is saying a lot about The Queen's effectiveness.