Favourite
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Favourite is set in the early 18th century reign of Queen Anne and tells the story of her documented relationships with Lady Sarah the Duchess of Marlborough and Abigail, and their all female love triangle. In this, and many other significant way, this film is far removed from more typical period-piece movies.
Olivia Colman’s portrayal of Queen Anne is outstanding, and she unquestionably deserved the Best Actress award at the 2018 Venice International Film Festival. Perhaps best known to us for her roles in television series such as Broadchurch, in this film she masterfully eliciting our sympathy, revulsion, disgust, pity, ridicule, respect and admiration. Appearing most of the film without makeup and in crushed bedclothes, Colman presents the first monarch of Great Britain (England including Wales, and Scotland united in 1707), who was widowed, continued to grieve her 17 miscarriages, suffered from severe gout, and who exhibited symptoms of behavioural and mental illness said to account for Queen Anne allowing Lady Sarah, to run the country for her.
At the centre of the story told by the film is Abigail played by Emma Stone, a young woman from a noble family fallen on hard times. She talks her way into being hired as a servant in the royal household, and soon competes with Lady Sarah for the attention and affection of the Queen. Sarah and Abigail also find themselves lobbying the Queen on behalf the government and opposition
The film is confronting in its titilation-free bawdiness and crudity, and ensures that what would otherwise be mere comic relief or sex, assumes far greater significance by being integral to the context of the story and context.
Emma Stone is a delight as the ambitious and deceptively ruthless young woman who appears willing to go to any lengths to be the Qeen’s favourite. How Abigail deals with the unwanted attention of male courtesans is also both entertaining and applaudable.
While this film introduces many colourful and memorable characters – including ‘pretty young men’ in ornate clothes and wigs (only the male characters in this film wear makeup) – the key roles are the all female characters in the love triangle.
While this film introduces many colourful and memorable characters – including ‘pretty young men’ in ornate clothes and wigs (only the male characters in this film wear makeup) – the key roles are the all female characters in the love triangle.
This film is also notable for its innovative cinematography, including the use of natural rather than artificial light (for which the innovative film Director Yorgos Lanthimos is known), the discarding of steady cam and the use of fisheye and wide-angle lenses. This serves to create a greater sense of involvement for the audience and images through which the Director seeks to present small people in large spaces which are closing in on them. Consequently, even though the film is a sumptuous visual feast also utilising spectacular sets and costumés, I must confess that I found the visual effects distracting.
Finally, I note the film!s glorious classical music which at times assumes a direct role in the film by creating or underlining the emotions of characters. The sound quality of the film is excellent and also worthy of note for its noticeable realism.
The final scenes, in particular, will leave you in no doubt that you have not merely watched a screening of Favourite, but rather that you have had a cinematic experience.
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