Her Majesty (2001)

Elizabeth is a popular thirteen year old who can't wait for the day the Queen of England visits her quaint New Zealand hometown. Her excitement becomes almost too much to bear upon learning... See full summary »

Director:

Mark J. Gordon

Writer:

Mark J. Gordon

Stars:

Sally Andrews, Anna Sheridan, Mark Clare

16 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sally Andrews	...	Elizabeth Wakefield
Anna Sheridan	...	Annabel Leach
Mark Clare	...	John Wakefield
Alison Routledge	...	Victoria Wakefield
Geoff Snell	...	Nigel Osgood
Craig Elliott	...	Stuart Wakefield
Patrick Morrison	...	Trevor
Todd Emerson	...	Fred
Alexander Gandar	...	Murray
Anton Tennet	...	Robert Davies
Stuart Devenie	...	Headmaster Stringfellow
Rachel Wallis	...	Queen Elizabeth II (as Rachel E. Wallis)
Chris Hollyer	...	Herald
Chris Tippett	...	Thomas Cook
Virginia Wickham	...	Rachel Wickstead

Storyline

Elizabeth is a popular thirteen year old who can't wait for the day the Queen of England visits her quaint New Zealand hometown. Her excitement becomes almost too much to bear upon learning that she might get to meet the Queen face to face! But as the rest of the town busies itself in eager anticipation of the big day, Elizabeth finds herself drawn to the elderly and mysterious outcast Hira.

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Taglines:

Two worlds. One day will change their lives forever.

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Genres:

Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and some mild language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 January 2005 (New Zealand)

Also Known As:

Ihre Majestät

Filming Locations:

Cambridge, Waikato, New Zealand

Company Credits

Production Co:

Silicon Valley Film Fund

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min (Filmfest Hamburg) 105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

References Roman Holiday (1953)

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Soundtracks

Make Some Changes Here
Lyrics by Randy Rice

User Reviews

An impressive new direction for film

"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.