It’s a good movie, almost across the board. I'm drawn to films set against historical backdrops or those connected to royalty—a fascination rooted in my personal history, my family background, and my work as a historian. I was eager to see this film, and I finally had the opportunity today. And it proved to be quite good overall. It’s not flawless; there are moments and scenes that seem overly imaginative, perhaps not entirely accurate to what really occurred. The dynamic between Queen Victoria and her personal servant certainly sparked controversy and misunderstanding at the time. The British court, like much of Europe then, was deeply prejudiced, racist, and Eurocentric. There was a widespread belief that Europe represented civilization, and that colonial and imperial endeavors would bring this civilization to a world considered barbaric—a world lacking Christian religion, education, manners, modern infrastructure, things only white Europeans could manage. This perspective informed Britain’s stance in India and other parts of its empire. While shocking to many today, leading to the removal of statues and monuments linked to Europe's colonial past, history won’t simply disappear if we ignore it. Learning—both inside and outside classrooms—comes from studying history, and erasing visible reminders of a past that offends us (or others) is ineffective. I don’t think we should feel ashamed of having been empires or of our presence in other countries, even if that involved domination. This experience left its mark on both sides—those who dominated and those who were dominated—and the cultural exchanges that took place helped shape the nations and peoples we know now. It's more constructive to learn from these events: to avoid repeating past mistakes and to utilize the connections established between different countries through our shared history. Apologies for this digression, but I think it’s relevant. As you may have already gathered, the film explores the relationship between a queen who ruled over a vast empire and a humble clerk who became one of her favorites, much to the dismay of the prejudiced court. Much of what's known about their connection has been lost because most letters and documents were destroyed after Victoria’s death, but I believe the movie successfully conveyed the essence of what transpired. Judi Dench is an exceptional actress—she previously portrayed Victoria in another film—and she’s perfectly cast, establishing a strong rapport with Ali Fazal, who is charismatic, affable, and immediately engaging. Several characters felt underdeveloped or uninteresting, particularly many of the royal court figures. However, I appreciated the performances by Michael Gambon, Tim Piggot Smith, and Eddie Izzard. The film's conclusion is especially poignant. From a technical standpoint, the choice of filming locations deserves recognition, notably Osborne House, a former royal residence closely associated with the monarch. The filmmakers made excellent use of this location, capturing color and light beautifully, creating an elegant, warm cinematography that’s visually appealing. As a period film, considerable effort was invested in sets and costumes, and I didn't notice any significant errors or issues. My primary criticism is that it wasn’t always clear how much time passed; someone unfamiliar with the story might struggle to determine if the events unfold over days or years. The score by Thomas Newman, composed specifically for the film, was also excellent.

Source on TMDB