Elizabeth (film): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:36, 8 December 2017

A 1998 film written by Michael Hirst and directed by Shekhar Kapur. Starring Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth), Geoffrey Rush (Francis Walsingham), Joseph Fiennes (Robert Dudley).

The movie deals with the early years of Elizabeth I's reign. Story: young woman sacrifices herself for her country. Some of the grey areas of history (how far did the 'friendship' with Robert Dudley go?) are told in glorious technicolour: in the movie, Elizabeth has a passionate sexual liaison with Robert Dudley, Lord Leicester.

The film is a typical example of heritage movies: romanticised and glorified English past, spendid setting, gorgeous costumes and props. The filming, montage, casting and story with their emphasis on thrills, coolness and speed (not to mention the "grrrl power") add some new elements to the heritage formula. The film was nominated for 7 Oscars. Won one Academy Award for make-up.

Sources

http://www.imdb.com/
Elizabth. Universal Studios. 1998.DVD.
Higson, Andrew. "Heritage Cinema and Television." In: Moreley, David/Robins, Kevin. British Cultural Studies. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Moss, David. "A Queen for whose Time? Elizabeth I as Icon for the twentieth Century." The Journal of Popular Culture, Vol. 39, No. 5, 2006.

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-== Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth (film) ==
+A 1998 film written by Michael Hirst and directed by [[Shekhar Kapur]]. Starring Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth), Geoffrey Rush ([[Francis Walsingham]]), Joseph Fiennes (Robert Dudley).
+The movie deals with the early years of [[Elizabeth I]]'s reign. Story: young woman sacrifices herself for her country. Some of the grey areas of history (how far did the 'friendship' with Robert Dudley go?) are told in glorious technicolour: in the movie, Elizabeth has a passionate sexual liaison with [[Robert Dudley]], Lord Leicester.
+The film is a typical example of heritage movies: romanticised and glorified English past, spendid setting, gorgeous costumes and props. The filming, montage, casting and story with their emphasis on thrills, coolness and speed (not to mention the "grrrl power") add some new elements to the heritage formula. The film was nominated for 7 Oscars. Won one Academy Award for make-up.
-Shekhar Kapur is an Indian director known for films like Bandit Queen, The Four Feathers and the films on Elizabeth I..
-His first film about Elizabeth I. deals with the early years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign and puts her self-discovery and the growing of her self-confidence at the centre of attention. Elizabeth has to overcome her her sister Mary, who put her in the Tower, she has to go through the passionate liason with Lord Robert Dudley, has to find out who is with and against her and she has to decide about the question of marriage and succession.
-This film belongs to the genre of heritage. Heritage films establish pictures of a romanticised Britain, they create a vision of England and operate as cultural ambassadors. The setting, the landscape, costumes and props play a crucial role for this genre and explain the success of films like Elizabeth.
-Queen Elizabeth is enacted by Cate Blanchett, Francis Walsingham by Geoffrey Rush and  Lord Robert Dudley by Joseph Fiennes. The film was released in 1998 and was nominated for 7 Oscars.
 == Sources ==