Victoria and Abdul
Director: Stephen Frears
Cast: Dame Judy Dench, Ali Fazal, Sukh Ojla, Fenella Woolgar, Eddie Izzard, Tim Pigott-Smith, Michael Gambon, Adeel Akhtar, Paul Higgins, Olivia Williams,
Abdul Karim arrives from India to participate in Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. The young clerk is surprised to find favour with the queen herself. As Victoria questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance that her household and inner circle try to destroy. As their friendship deepens, the queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes, joyfully reclaiming her humanity.
This film is inspired by the real-life friendship that was born between Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, and the Queen’s dearest friend and confidante, Abdul, in the later years of the Queen’s life. Their friendship is illustrated beautifully in the film in two distinct ways. When Abdul accompanies the Queen on holiday, she gives him a locket with her photograph in it as a token of her affection and to celebrate Abdul becoming her Munshi (her teacher). When Abdul asks the Queen how he can thank her for this generous gift, she tells Abdul “Keep me safe”. Later, when the royal household is destroying all the letters and other keepsakes that the Queen has given her dear friend, - literally erasing Abdul from memory - Abdul’s wife finds the necklace and gives it to Abdul, echoing the Queen’s words…to keep the Queen safe by protecting the precious gift she gave Abdul: her heart.
Another way that the friendship between Queen Victoria and Abdul is illustrated is in the way Abdul befriends and honors his Queen. The rest of the household treat the Queen almost like an infant. They do everything for her. When Abdul first sees Victoria, she seems very sad and lonely…almost as if her very life has been snuffed out. Although he is ordered not to look at the Queen when he is presenting his gift to her, Abdul eyes meet those of the Queen, and he offers her a warm smile…which seems to intrigue her. As the story unfolds, at least on two occasions, Abdul touches his forehead to the Queen’s feet and kisses them…a sign of deep respect. He also becomes much more than her humble servant. He becomes her Munshi; teaching her Urdu and the Quran and other worthy wisdoms. He becomes her confidante, listening to the Queen’s deepest secrets and sorrows and sympathizing with her pain. He becomes like a son to her, bringing Victoria joy in the waning years of her reign and restoring Victoria’s voice and power as a true and noble monarch. When her son and advisors criticize her and castigate her for favoring Abdul (who they regard as inferior to them) and threaten to have her stripped of her crown and declared insane, she defends her friend and ultimately, she also defends herself by reminding her subjects who the true Queen is. And when Victoria is dying, it is Abdul who remains ever by her side, to comfort her and give her the courage she needs to make a peaceful transition to the “Banquet Hall of Eternity”.
Although Victoria’s son and staff tried to eradicate Abdul from all memory, this film illustrates a beautiful and emotionally heartfelt friendship between one of England’s greatest Queens and the man who became her most beloved and trusted friend. The casting for this movie is flawless, particularly for Dame Judy Dench who plays Queen Victoria and Ali Fazal, who brings Abdul to life onscreen as a truly sympathetic and beautiful character. As the story draws to a close, one feels comforted by the thought that Abdul was there to bring Victoria a little bit of happiness at the end of her long reign. I would highly recommend this film.
© 2021 Keriane Kellogg
Director: Stephen Frears
Cast: Dame Judy Dench, Ali Fazal, Sukh Ojla, Fenella Woolgar, Eddie Izzard, Tim Pigott-Smith, Michael Gambon, Adeel Akhtar, Paul Higgins, Olivia Williams,
Abdul Karim arrives from India to participate in Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. The young clerk is surprised to find favour with the queen herself. As Victoria questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance that her household and inner circle try to destroy. As their friendship deepens, the queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes, joyfully reclaiming her humanity.
This film is inspired by the real-life friendship that was born between Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, and the Queen’s dearest friend and confidante, Abdul, in the later years of the Queen’s life. Their friendship is illustrated beautifully in the film in two distinct ways. When Abdul accompanies the Queen on holiday, she gives him a locket with her photograph in it as a token of her affection and to celebrate Abdul becoming her Munshi (her teacher). When Abdul asks the Queen how he can thank her for this generous gift, she tells Abdul “Keep me safe”. Later, when the royal household is destroying all the letters and other keepsakes that the Queen has given her dear friend, - literally erasing Abdul from memory - Abdul’s wife finds the necklace and gives it to Abdul, echoing the Queen’s words…to keep the Queen safe by protecting the precious gift she gave Abdul: her heart.
Another way that the friendship between Queen Victoria and Abdul is illustrated is in the way Abdul befriends and honors his Queen. The rest of the household treat the Queen almost like an infant. They do everything for her. When Abdul first sees Victoria, she seems very sad and lonely…almost as if her very life has been snuffed out. Although he is ordered not to look at the Queen when he is presenting his gift to her, Abdul eyes meet those of the Queen, and he offers her a warm smile…which seems to intrigue her. As the story unfolds, at least on two occasions, Abdul touches his forehead to the Queen’s feet and kisses them…a sign of deep respect. He also becomes much more than her humble servant. He becomes her Munshi; teaching her Urdu and the Quran and other worthy wisdoms. He becomes her confidante, listening to the Queen’s deepest secrets and sorrows and sympathizing with her pain. He becomes like a son to her, bringing Victoria joy in the waning years of her reign and restoring Victoria’s voice and power as a true and noble monarch. When her son and advisors criticize her and castigate her for favoring Abdul (who they regard as inferior to them) and threaten to have her stripped of her crown and declared insane, she defends her friend and ultimately, she also defends herself by reminding her subjects who the true Queen is. And when Victoria is dying, it is Abdul who remains ever by her side, to comfort her and give her the courage she needs to make a peaceful transition to the “Banquet Hall of Eternity”.
Although Victoria’s son and staff tried to eradicate Abdul from all memory, this film illustrates a beautiful and emotionally heartfelt friendship between one of England’s greatest Queens and the man who became her most beloved and trusted friend. The casting for this movie is flawless, particularly for Dame Judy Dench who plays Queen Victoria and Ali Fazal, who brings Abdul to life onscreen as a truly sympathetic and beautiful character. As the story draws to a close, one feels comforted by the thought that Abdul was there to bring Victoria a little bit of happiness at the end of her long reign. I would highly recommend this film.
© 2021 Keriane Kellogg