Victoria & Abdul (2017)

Queen Victoria strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk named Abdul Karim.

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers:

Lee Hall (screenplay by), Shrabani Basu (based on the book by)

Stars:

Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Tim Pigott-Smith

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Judi Dench	...	Queen Victoria
Ali Fazal	...	Abdul Karim
Tim Pigott-Smith	...	Sir Henry Ponsonby
Eddie Izzard	...	Bertie, Prince of Wales
Adeel Akhtar	...	Mohammed
Michael Gambon	...	Lord Salisbury
Paul Higgins	...	Dr. Reid
Olivia Williams	...	Lady Churchill
Fenella Woolgar	...	Miss Phipps
Julian Wadham	...	Alick Yorke
Robin Soans	...	Arthur Bigge
Ruth McCabe	...	Mrs. Tuck
Simon Callow	...	Puccini
Sukh Ojla	...	Mrs. Karim
Kemaal Deen-Ellis	...	Ahmed

Storyline

Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal) arrives from India to participate in Queen Victoria's (Dame Judi Dench's) golden jubilee. The young clerk is surprised to find favor with the Queen. As Victoria questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance that her household and inner circle try to destroy. As their friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes, joyfully reclaiming her humanity.

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Plot Keywords:

royal court | unlikely friendship | queen of england | muslim | courtier | 

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Taglines:

History's most unlikely friendship

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Stephen Frears was awarded the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award at the 74th Venice Film Festival just before a public screening of this movie. Other cast members present at the screening included Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, and Eddie Izzard.

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Goofs

When Victoria and Abdul are riding in a carriage, snow starts, even though the trees are still in full leaf. In the next shot, the trees are bare.

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Quotes

[as Queen Victoria reaches for her stamp, Abdul grabs it for her instead]
Queen Victoria: Thank you, Mr...
Abdul Karim: Abdul. Abdul Karim.
[Queen Victoria continues to write her letters]
Abdul Karim: I am always writing.
[Queen Victoria looks at him]
Abdul Karim: In India, I'm writing, a-all day, every day.
Queen Victoria: So in India, you are not a servant?
Abdul Karim: No. In India, I'm writing in my very big book.
Queen Victoria: You're writing a book?
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Begins with text that says it is "Based on real events... mostly".

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Connections

Referenced in The Graham Norton Show: Dame Judi Dench/Steve Carell/Kristen Wiig/Jamie Foxx/HAIM (2017)

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Soundtracks

I'm Called Little Buttercup
Written by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan
Arranged by Terry Davies
Performed by Judi Dench and Eddie Izzard

User Reviews

Good story-telling ruined

Here is a great tale, with quite a few elements of fact thrown in, told in a way that is often amusing and sympathetic. A lot of the plot is authentically filmed at Osborn House, where the events really happened. But it's ruined by an achingly 'woke' perspective, and a heap of anachronisms.

There was huge potential here: Judy Dench plays Queen Victoria so well; and Ali Fazal fits the bill as a "handsome Indian" as well as playing his part brilliantly and likeably.

Unfortunately all the other characters are two-dimensional caricatures,the Royal Household, the Prince of Wales, and the Prime Minister all pompous racists with no redeeming characteristics. The dialogue though well-delivered is truly banal in many places, and utterly unbelievable.

This could have been a great film, but sadly it isn't.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

Arabic English Urdu Hindi

Release Date:

6 October 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Victoria & Abdul

Filming Locations:

Cairngorms, Highland, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$21,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$158,845, 24 September 2017

Gross USA:

$22,245,070

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$66,558,465

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, Cross Street Films, Perfect World Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1