ELIZABETH
UK, 1998, 124 minutes, Colour.
Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes, Richard Attenborough, Fanny Ardant, Eric Cantona, Vincent Cassel, Kathy Burke, Edward Hardwicke, Emily Mortimer, John Gielgud, Terence Rigby, James Frain, Jamie Foreman, Kelly Macdonald, Angus Deayton, Kenny Doughty, Daniel Craig.
Directed by Shekhar Kapur.
Elizabeth is a lavish historical production that is reminiscent of the French Queen Margot, a grimmer portrait of 16th century France than we are accustomed to with the romantic Hollywood epics of the past.
Elizabeth of England was a contemporary of Margot, although this film shows us a period of ten years, 1554-1563, with the young princess spurned by Mary, ascending the throne, advised to do ill-fated battle with Mary Queen of Scots, purging the kingdom of pro-Spanish and pro-Papal plotters and assuming the austere detachment she would show for the forty years of her reign.
Elizabeth wanted a united England and church of England. Margot wanted a united France and a Catholic church. Both saw fierce persecutions and religious intolerance as well as martyrs on both sides. Cate Blanchett gives a depth portrait of Elizabeth, from girlish princess to Virgin Queen. She is well supported by Geoffrey Rush as the quietly Macchiavellian adviser, Walsingham, and Christopher Eccleston as the ambitious papist, Norfolk. Richard Attenborough is Lord Burleigh. Elizabeth recreates its era, especially its sinister shadows, and offers a great deal to think about. Thoughtful, provocative history.
1.Audience interest in and response to Elizabeth? History, an icon, the politics of the period, Britain, religion, the Reformation?
2.The production values, re-creation of the 16th century, locations, palaces, interiors, prisons, the life of the royal family, costumes, décor? The countryside, the coast? The battles? The musical score?
3.The period covered: Queen Mary and persecution, Mary’s marriage and pregnancy, Elizabeth and prison, her freedom, proclaimed queen, her relationships, suitors, politics, Mary Queen of Scots, her life, prospects of marriage, becoming Gloriana?
4.The opening and the setting of Mary’s reign, Mary’s age, her relationship with her father, her marriage to Philip of Spain, her resentment of Elizabeth? The Catholic supremacy, her advisers, the executions, burning? Parliament, her councils, the plots? The status of Catholics? Her seeing Elizabeth, coming into her presence, her attitude towards Elizabeth, resentment, sending her to prison? Her false pregnancy, her death? The portrait of a miserable woman?
5.The introduction to Elizabeth, young, at court, her friendships, with Robert Dudley, dancing, playing? The arrest, the audience with Mary, going to prison, the kindness of some of the courtiers – and the later repercussions when they were to be executed? Her sense of fate?
6.Her becoming queen, the pomp, the protocols, proclaimed, her political meetings, the advisers? The role of the church? Norfolk and the Catholics? The return of Walsingham? Lord Burleigh? Issues of religion? Elizabeth in charge of meetings? Her criticisms of her advisers, comments about marriage? Her relationship with Robert Dudley?
7.The portrait of Elizabeth, her growth as a person, her experience, from girlish to woman, shrewd, political? Religious issues?
8.The background of Spain, Philip II, his marriage to Mary, the proposal to Elizabeth, his being in Spain and she in England? The ambassador, his being in league with the Duke of Norfolk and the other Catholics?
9.France, the possibility of marriage liaison, the French ambassador, in the court, the preparation for the Duke of Anjou, his joke in disguising himself, speaking in French, his disdain for Elizabeth? Her observing him? His relationship with Mary Queen of Scots? Her discovering him in the dress? Ousting him?
10.Walsingham, as a sinister presence, as a person, his relationship with the young men, getting information, his killing the young traitor? Betrayal and plots? His being in charge of security, always present? In the council, his advice? Spying, negotiating, unmasking the priest, arresting the Catholics? Organising the assassinations and executions? His relying on Lord Elliott – and his death?
11.Lord Burleigh, a wise presence, age and experience, his faux pas in referring to Elizabeth as a woman and questioning her ability to govern? His being made Lord Burleigh and retired?
12.The presentation of the Catholics, the Duke of Norfolk, scheming, his relationship with his wife? The other lords, their being excluded from the council and decision-making, locked in their room? The plots? The priest, the scene in Rome, the pope, the priest’s mission, assassination, his arrival on shore, the fight? The excommunication of Elizabeth? The search in the priest’s house, the children, finding him in the priest’s hole? His torture?
13.The arrests of the Catholic nobility, the Duke of Norfolk with his wife, taken away, his dignity and death? His beliefs? The other lords?
14.Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, his friendship with Elizabeth, the affair, his wife, his ambiguity in friendships and love? In the council? His finally being rejected by Elizabeth?
15.Mary Queen of Scots, her character, the battles, relationship with Anjou – and her being poisoned?
16.The ladies-in-waiting, their friendship with Elizabeth, their place, presence, liaisons?
17.Elizabeth as strong, her tough decisions, the executions, the issue of marriage, her change to maturity, the final ritual with her hair, make-up, married to England? The opening for a sequel?
