Her Majesty

I loved this movie - had a chance to see a local screening and was delighted all the way though to the unexpected ending. The movie is set and filmed in New Zealand and is about a little girl who worships Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953 just after her coronation. The girl sends dozens of letters to Buckingham Palace and is ridiculed for her fancy; however, when the queen makes her trip that year to New Zealand (the trip was real; the rest fiction), she adds the little girl's rural town to her itinerary.

The movie is about the events preceeding the Queen's visit, including serious problems because the girl has befriended an old Maori woman with a complicated past; bigotry, small town clans, colonialism, ignorance, and other injustices rear their ugly head along the way to some unexpected conclusions. The movie is very touching and sure to be a hit for kids and families of all ages, as the main themes are universal.

"Her Majesty" an impressive new film shown at the Mill Valley Film Festival.

For some time, there has been significant unrest with our entertainment media. Large segments of the public have been decrying Hollywood film productions. The choice of violent content, dysfunctional behavior, excessive sexual emphasis, and a debased human condition as subject material have championed sensationalism over the artistic potential of the film industry.

But there have been signs of a reawakening of the films artistry with a new generation of film makers. This example, a film made in New Zealand by a young American writer and director, Mark Gordon is one to stir nostalgia for this all but lost art.

The story line is a very straightforward one. A 12 year old girl, captivated by the fairytale like coronation of England's Queen Elizabeth in 1953 becomes obsessed with the notion that if she prevails on her Queen, often and with a great enough devotion, her idol might, on a tour of the Empire, come to New Zealand. Once there she would visit the small town of Middleton, where she might be met and greeted by this young dreamer. As a subplot, the great 19th century struggle by the Maori natives to keep the white man from killing their people and seizing their land is historically brought to life in the character of an old woman, daughter of a slain chief of the Maori who is befriended by our young dreamer. The few months between the Queen's itinerary being settled to include Middleton and the actual visit is a hectic melange of problems and resolutions that revolve about the girl's family, the Maori elder, and the community. The visit (which historically duplicates a real event in 1953, and includes locals who were present at that visit) calms all the ruffled waters and leaves the viewer teary eyed and fulfilled.

What then does one make of the wholesome content of this film, of the sensitive treatment of a child at the verge of her awakening as an adolescent and of her dreams. The film's depiction of the Maori elder's treatment as an outcast, and its reversal by the Queen is also developed with touching sensitivity. There is great care in dovetailing all of the above with great cinematography, a coordinated musical background, a precision of costume and period pieces of furniture and cars that blend together as great film artistry.

One leaves this film with a warm glow that is part nostalgia for simpler and less troubling times, and part hope for an industry to regain its focus, rekindling the art of filmaking to suggest that the human condition is not all bad. Art can reflect the best or the worst about us. It can also search for the simple but mysterious parts of ourselves and our world and express them in artistic metaphor.

This film does that beautifully. I hope it goes far, but if you get a chance, go see it , and take the kids.

`Her Majesty' is a New Zealand story for the whole family set in the '50's about a young girl's idealism and white racism against the Maoris. Elizabeth Wakefield (Sally Andrews) is a 13-year old royalist hell bent on meeting Queen Elizabeth. But before that can happen she must first go through the coming-of-age challenges of racist whites, angry Maoris, out-of-it parents, over-the-top cruel brother, unfaithful friends, handsome teacher, and scores of unanswered letters to the queen.

First-time film director Mark Jordan has caught the didactic spirit of `Whale Rider,' a New Zealand tale of 12–year-old Pai's struggle to become chief of her Maori people in the face of daunting sexism and tradition. As in that film, `Her Majesty' exposes the foolishness of the men and the wisdom of the women. None is wiser than the `town witch,' Hira Mata (`Whale Rider's' Vicky Haughton), who befriends Elizabeth and serves as the change agent for civility. The queen's imminent arrival serves as a metaphoric wakeup call for the town to sharpen up, not just for the gardens but for their own racist regimen.

The performances are stiff and slow as might be expected for a film better suited to young audiences: The fight scenes between sister and brother are like awkward dance lessons; the reactions of almost everyone are too large for the screen, except for old Mata's, themselves not as subtle as they could be.

Queen Elizabeth II visited the location, Cambridge, New Zealand, in 1953. Gordon catches the spirit, mood, and look of that age in vivid primary colors, almost cartoon or comic like. But the moral lessons learned by little Elizabeth transcend even the queen; she has learned, as Henry Potter said in 1889, `the one pre-eminent distinction, the royalty of virtue.'

It's the New Zealand I remember and the Maori spirit I felt; for that, Gordon earns my respect.

I saw this movie last week with my 12 and 7 year-old-daughters. The story, characters and locations were all just wonderful. The film was endearing and carried a great moral, without being preachy. The comedy in the film works, the drama works, and neither is too much or too corny. The characters are well developed and the audience clearly identifies with the protagonist, 11-year-old Elizabeth. The crowd actually broke out in cheers when the mean older brother finally gets his - something I haven't experienced in a movie in years. I especially enjoyed seeing Vicky Haughton again after her fabulous performance in Whale Rider. I highly recommend this film for everyone...yes even men without kids. The screening was followed by a Q&A with writer/director Mark Gordon. He is traveling the country, screening the movie, and asked that we spread the word, which I am by posting this notice. I wouldn't bother doing this merely on the request of the filmmaker, but the movie spoke for itself. I made a mental note to post a great review as soon as the ending credits started.

I've been racking my brain trying to remember the movie this one reminded me and I finally thought of it. The movie is like a perfected version of "A Christmas Story". The comedy is similarly good, but the message this movie sends, and the quality of the filmmaking goes well beyond.

Anyway, take your kids and enjoy!

We saw this film at a screening with the director in May of 2004. We were lucky that an owner of a local theater chain saw this film at a film festival and brought it to our city, one of the first 3 to show the film. As a small independent film, this movie is at a disadvantage without a major studio backing them, but the director said he was committed to a theater release, so hopefully many people will that the opportunity to go see this beautiful movie.

We were delighted with the freshness of the story and the beautiful scenery of New Zealand. Sally Andrews is so great as the girl, Elizabeth, and she steals the show. This is a sweet film that you can take the family to without worrying about inappropriate material. Ironically, you should be aware that there is some sexual innuendo, but it is likely to go over your children's heads, and I did not find it to be offensive. Overall the movie appeals to young and old alike, and I would highly recommend it.