[wpdevart_youtube]SCLcSLxlKkM[/wpdevart_youtube]
****
Dir: Stephen Frears (12A, 105mins)
Prestige British film-making with Judi Dench revisiting Queen Victoria, striking up another unlikely friendship with another servant who lifts her spirits. Instead of Billy Connolly’s bluff Scotsman John Brown, it’s a subject from her Indian Empire, Abdul, played by Ali Fazal. Travelling in from India to serve the seemingly declining, remote and heart-broken Queen Victoria on her Golden Jubilee, Abdul makes an impression, making eye contact with her majesty and finding favour with her. This obviously goes against the will of her advisors and inner circle, various outraged British thespians, including Michael Gambon’s Lord Salisbury, Eddie Izzard’s Prince of Wales and Tim Piggot-Smith’s Henry Ponsonby. Through Abdul however, Victoria reawakens to life, learns about Indian culture, and he becomes a close advisor, gaining real status much to the chagrin of the powers that be. Based on Shaman Basu’s book, this is an intriguing glimpse into history, colonialism and racism delivered with aplomb by director Frears and his central duo.
Opens Sept 15