To an early showing of The Young Victoria on Monday with the Aussie. We saw the movie at the lovely Stratford Picturehouse - an oasis of culture in the wastelands of Stratford shopping centre - which, incidentally, has half-price shows on a Monday, hurrah!
A lushly sumptuous film, rich in texture through the gorgeous period costumes, luscious lighting and evocative cinematography.
And covering, imaginatively, a bit of history that I know very little about. The later years are well-documented in the popular imagination - the rotund, severe madam in widows weeds who was not amused. This narrative looks closely at the pressure on her to agree to a regency before she was eligible to ascend to the throne, the constitutional politics of 'the bedchamber crisis', her incipient relationship with Albert, the multiple assassination attempts and her transition from naïve, wilful greenhorn to true monarch.
Most fascinating were the two key themes at the heart, the political play over control of a underage and female heir to the throne, and the growth of trust between Victoria and her husband, the political choice but also the love match.
Who knows how true a portrayal this might be - but I'm certainly keen to read more, by way of her diaries and letters, if I can get my hands on them...
