Boudica (2003)

Director:

Bill Anderson

Writer:

Andrew Davies (writer)

Release Date:

28 September 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History | War

Plot Keywords:

Historical | Roman Empire | Rebellion | Female Nudity | Roman

Cast

Alex Kingston	...	Boudica
Steven Waddington	...	King Prasutagus
Emily Blunt	...	Isolda
Leanne Rowe	...	Siora
Ben Faulks	...	Connach
Hugo Speer	...	Dervalloc
Gary Lewis	...	Magior the Shaman
Alex Hassell	...	Roman Officer
James Clyde	...	Roman Sergeant
Angus Wright	...	Severus
Steve John Shepherd	...	Catus
Jack Shepherd	...	Claudius
Gideon Turner	...	Didius
Frances Barber	...	Agrippina
Andrew Lee Potts	...	Nero

Also Known As:

Warrior Queen (USA)

Runtime:

Argentina:98 min | USA:83 min

Country:

UK | Romania

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

UK

Company:

Box TV

Goofs:

Factual errors: According to the movie king Prasutagus of the Icenii died at about the same time as the Roman emperor Claudius. However, the latter died in 54 CE, while the former died in 61 CE.

Very good, very bad at the same time

It's got some great sets and costumes, a fantastic, frankly groundbreaking soundtrack of calling vocals, and spectacular deeply theatric moments, basically any time the characters aren't actually speaking is OK. The dialogue is fundamentally awful, Romans are one-dimensionally bad, absurdly condescending and arrogant, and barbarians good. Obviously the writer wanted to make this a commentary about current politics, referring to Icenians as "terrorists", a concept which did not exist at the time. In fact, many lines such as "For God's sake!" would not exist for this setting.

I don't suppose anyone could tell me the reason why all the Roman soldiers have cockney accents either.

To watch this film, you've got to have a sense of humor for the dialogue which is utterly painful. The Romans are written so badly on such a deep level one can take amusement in it. But it can't be described, laughed at, and appreciated as a bad B-movie, there are quality stirring dramatic moments there and any humor you see in it is killed by the prolonged gang rape scene, which is not a gratuitous addition but a serious, fundamental part of the historical accounts of the real Boudicca.

This film is without compare in its strengths and weaknesses and I'm wholly at a loss to classify it or say exactly how one should appreciate it. You will have to decide for yourself and tell me.