VICTORIA & ABDUL

UK, 2017, 112 minutes, Colour.
Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Tim Piggott- Smith, Olivia Williams, Michael Gambon, Simon Callow, Eddie Izzard, Fenella Woolgar, Adeel Akhtar, Julian Wadham.
Directed by Stephen Frears.

Lest anyone think or suspect that this picture of Queen Victoria is a throwback to 19th century ra-ra Empire days and glorification of the Victorian era, there is quite a lot of Britons satirising themselves and their past in the early part of this film.

Yes, it is a picture of Queen Victoria. One might say that it is something of a warts and all picture, highlighting how crusty she could be but also how lonely she could be in her record-breaking long reign. And, since she is played once again by Judi Dench, the impact on the audience is particularly strong. In searching for a word to describe Judi Dench’s performance, this reviewer would decide on the word “perfect�.

The title is something of a surprise except for those who are experts on the reign of Queen Victoria. The opening of the film says that it is based on real events and then adds “mostly�. A look at the rather long Wikipedia entry about Abdul Karim shows that the events in the film and the characterisation seem to be quite strongly true to life.

We know who Queen Victoria is from the many films about her reign. In 1997 we even saw Judi Dench, in an Oscar-nominated performance, as Queen Victoria in Mrs Brown and her strong friendship with the Scotsman, John Brown. In this film, John Brown has been dead for some time and there is an emotional hole in the heart of Queen Victoria. She has little satisfaction from her children, considering her rather profligate oldest son, Bertie (to be Edward VII) as an embarrassment. She has affection for some of the servants but the official members of her household seem to be career servants.

So, who is Abdul (very empathetic Indian actor, Ali Fazal)? He is a rather genial Moslem from Agra, a clerk in a prison, filing names and dates. He has given some opinions about a carpet sent to England for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. He also has the advantage of being tall and so is chosen by British officials to go to London to present a special caulling to the Queen. He was to have the tall companion but this man had an accident with an elephant and so a rather shorter man goes, Mohammed (a very good comic role for Adeel Akhtar) who finds it very difficult going to England, being there, finding the food and manners barbaric, longing for home, but able to criticise England in a British terms, a bloody terrible place.

At this time, Victoria is nearing 70, describing herself as a crusty, greedy old lady, fat but an inordinate love for power. She has servants galore, to dress her, to wait at table for ambassadorial functions (and the banquet scene with all the servants and livery, the cooks in the kitchen, the little boy running up the corridor with announcements, is enough to stir aggressively socialist attitudes in the audience). And there are rituals, especially for the presentation of the medal with strict instructions not to look at the Queen.

Abdul does.

The Queen is interested in him, attracted to him, favours him, having him as an advisor, teaching her Urdo, appointing him her Munshie, religious mentor. And the friendship becomes closer over the years, allowing him to go back to India to bring his wife and mother-in-law, wearing burkhas, allowing him more access to her presence than many of her staff, taking him to Scotland and Balmoral and picnics in the Highlands, for a visit to Florence (and a meeting with Simon Callow as Puccini, truly hamming it up).

The film becomes more and more serious as it progresses, especially with the Royal household becoming more and more antipathetic to Abdul, insulting and racist in their comments and behaviour, conspiring to dishonour him in the Queen’s eyes, invoking Bertie (Eddie Izzard) who certainly does not approve of his mother and her seeming insanity.

This makes the drama all the more interesting, offering insights into the work of the Queen as head of state, her state duties and responsibilities, her decisions, the influence of the Prime Minister (Michael Gambon), the head of the household, Sir Henry Ponsonby (Tim Piggott- Smith).

The film moves to the death of Queen Victoria in 2001, the reaction of Edward VII to Abdul, Abdul and his return to India and his complete loyalty and devotion to the monarch who favoured him.

Given the Muslim ascendancy in today’s world as well as fears of and antagonism towards Muslim asylum seekers and refugees, this is a timely entertainment to alert audiences, especially Western audiences, to prejudices and intolerant behaviour.

The film was written by Lee Hall, who also wrote Billy Elliot, and directed by Stephen Frears who directed The Queen and directed Judi Dench as Philomena. It is quite sumptuous to look at. It is often very funny at the expense of upper-class 19th century aristocrats. It is serious in its reflections on the role of the British Empire, especially its presence in India, it is exploitation of Indians and the move towards independence.

In all aspects, it is very interesting and enjoyable.

1. The appeal of the film? Queen Victoria? The British Empire and later Commonwealth? India? Portrait and critique?

2. The cast, the writer, the director?

3. 1887-1901, the end of an era, the death of the Queen? The place of empire? Yet the movement towards India and independence?

4. Audience knowledge about Victoria, Albert, Mr Brown, the Prime Ministers, her children, Bertie to become Edward VII, the descendants, the Kaiser and other royalty in Europe? The introduction sequence of these children to Abdul?

5. Queen Victoria, Judi Dench’s performance, appearance, costumes, in the privacy of her room, sleeping and getting up and dressing, in public, the meals, diplomacy? The visit of the prime minister? The box, her household and the detail? Her being on the move, going to Scotland and Balmoral, the Isle of Wight, her manner? Her memories, her loneliness, her self-description of her faults, but not insane? A powerful woman – with a strong will?

6. 1887, the Queen’s Jubilee, the gift of the carpet from India, the presentation of the calling? Being the Empress of India, and not going there for fear of assassination? Abdul and his setting, a clerk, the names of the prisoners, his advice on the carpet, his being tall, chosen to go to England? The background in Agra? The trip, the cold, the food – and the character of Mohammed? His not wanting to be in England, short, not getting the cushion, on the outside, seeing the British as barbarians, their food, the arrival at the harbour and the beggars? His sardonic remarks, swearing about the English? Illness, supporting Abdul, his death, Abdul’s grief and being sorry?

7. India, the British occupation, calling people idiots, their business interests, the background of the mutiny? Hindus and Hindi, Muslims and Urdu? Muslim history and culture and beauty, the Taj Mahal? The role of women, the wife and mother-in-law, and wearing the burqa?

8. The ceremonial, Victoria dressing, the meal and her boredom, the vast number of servants, the kitchen and the preparation of the meals, the rehearsals, the rituals, the men in livery, the boy running with messages along the corridor? The ritual of the presentation of the gift? The injunction not to look at the Queen?

9. The household, the master of the household and the rehearsals? Fussiness and precision? Sir Henry Ponsonby, his character, his role? Dr Reid and his concern, the Queen and her health, her motions? The Queen’s concern about Abdul’s wife and fertility? The maid and the variety of women dressing the Queen? Mrs Churchill and her snobbery? Miss Phipps, her enjoying things, yet her being chosen to speak directly to the Queen, her humiliation? The detail of life reality, dress, formality and presence? The sequence of the tableau? The arrogance of the staff and their insults? Racism?

10. Abdul and the Queen, her interest in him, her enquiries, their talking, the discussions about the mango – and it finally arriving and being off? Abdul and the privacy of the Queen’s room, with her box of documents, ousting others, his becoming her confidante? In Scotland, the meal, the scratchy clothes? The rowing and the water? Her explaining herself to him? Her loneliness? The discussions about Urdu, her lessons, her delight in the language? The imagery of the beauty and the carpet? His explanation of the Munshi, and his not being a servant but a mentor?

11. Getting his wife, the mother-in-law, the burqa, the doctor, his only seeing the tongue? The doctor examining Abdul and discovering gonorrhoea? To be used as an argument against him? And the Queen saying the doctor should heal him?

12. Bertie, his age, heir to the throne, waiting for his mother to be ill and die, spending time at Monte Carlo, his life, expectations of him, profligate, an embarrassment to his mother, his agreement with the household, his death dislike of Abdul, trying to get rid of him?

13. Victoria, power, her willpower? The speech of Miss Phipps? Victoria defying the household, challenging them?

14. The visit of the prime minister, his advice to the queen, his bewilderment about what was happening with the household, with Abdul, wanting the Queen to get rid of him?

15. The Queen and the knighthood, the revolt, her stating that he would be made a Commander?

16. Abdul as companion, confidante, kissing her foot, absolute devotion, her illness, standing at the door, the household finally letting him in, the final talk and the eternal banquet?

17. Victoria dying, her achievements?

18. Bertie, becoming king, burning Abdul’s possessions, sending him back to India? Abdul in India, in Agra, his reverence for the Queen’s statue, his death?

19. Characters and interactions, profiles of characters, glimpses of history, insight recreation of the period?