art & design
The History of Britain, According to Cinema

February 22, 2012

Every year, a large number of small prestige films come out about the vast history of the British Empire. In fact, you can follow a continuum of the English Monarchy through movies that were nominated for–or won–Academy Awards (think The King’s Speech).  So here’s our crash course in the history of Britain according to the cinema.  You’ll want to brush up–more great English historical dramas are surely on the way.

The Other Boleyn Girl

Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana star in this adaptation of the historical fiction novel by Phillipa Gregory. It tells the story of 16^th Century aristocrats Mary and Anne Boleyn, mistresses to Henry VIII. Mary adopts her sister’s daughter Elizabeth, who will become one of the most formidable Queens in world history.

Elizabeth

Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush star in this biopic of perhaps the greatest Queen England has ever known.  During her reign, she formed England and Scotland into one nation–what is now known as Britain–and expanded the British Empire around the world, so that “the sun never set” on it.

Restoration

Robert Downey, Jr. and Sam Neill star in this tale of a young doctor and Charles II, who restored the monarchy after Cromwell was removed from power after 11 years.  The film’s themes revolve around science versus superstition, a central debate of the time.

The Madness of King George III

Helen Mirren, Ian Holm and Rupert Everett are just a few of the recognizable actors in this critically acclaimed examination of how the King of England went insane around the time the British lost America in the late 18^th Century.

The Young Victoria

Starring Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend,  The Young Victoria tells the love story of how Queen Victoria fell for Prince Albert in the mid-19^th Century, setting the stage for what was to become “Victorian England.”

Mrs. Brown

An older Queen Victoria, mourning the loss of her husband Prince Albert, is saved from depression by her husband’s highland horseman John Brown who refuses to treat her like royalty. Judi Dench stars as the late Queen and was nominated for her first Academy Award (at age 63) for this role.

The Young Victoria airs on Ovation February 24th at 8 and 10:30pm and again on March 3rd at 3 and 5:30pm.  Tune in to watch Emily Blunt’s depiction of the young, fiercely independent queen exerting her power as royalty even after she married her love, Prince Albert.

Sam Feeder is a poet/writer/photographer who works primarily in Los Angeles and Austin. Feeder is a careful observer and tries to experience as many different aspects of life as possible, ranging from travels all over the world to discovering that hole-in-the-wall restaurant or bar no one knows about.

Image: The Young Victoria