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Blog by Don Kennedy

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The Young Victoria


The Young Victoria is a regal trip back to the early 19th century and the beginning of the longest reign of a monarch in British history that lasted through the apex of the empire days for England. Heavy is the head that wears the crown and in this case it was true even before the installation of that bejewelled head gear. Emily Blunt carries the film masterfully as the bullied but headstrong Victoria who despite poor health prior to reaching the age of consent, refused to bow to intense pressure to relinquish power to her mother the Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson) and Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong) her manipulative second husband. Victoria’s uncle King William (Jim Broadbent) graciously clung to life until she turned 18 at which point she elided onto the throne. Although she took on the job with great relish she was unprepared and mistakenly fell under the spell of opportunist Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany). Her stubborn nature that stood her in good stead while sequestered as a minor quickly got her in political hot water not only with parliament but most troubling with her loyal subjects. Thankfully she had two strong allies in Adelaide (Harriet Walter) her Uncles Queen and Germany’s Prince Albert (Rupert Friend). He would come to be the love of her life even though he was subject to some royal intrigue himself from back home. Kudos to a beautifully told and revealing tale from Director Jean-Marc Vallée - ironically from Quebec, a part the commonwealth not famous for monarchists.

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