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 arrives from India to participate in Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. The young clerk is surprised to find favor with the queen herself. 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:

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

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Taglines:

Based on an extraordinary true story.

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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

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Urdu Hindi

Release Date:

6 October 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Victoria y Abdul

Filming Locations:

Cairngorms, Highland, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$158,845, 24 September 2017, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$22,245,070, 4 January 2018

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's premiere was at TIFF in Toronto in September 2017.

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Goofs

At the start we hear a call to prayer (adhan) with a loudspeaker which did not yet exist in 1887.

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Quotes

Sir Henry Ponsonby: Breakfast with the Royal Princes of Belgium. 11:00, an audience with the Sultan of Dubai, where Her Majesty will be presented with the Diamond of Oojay. Garden party where Her Majesty will receive Oscar II, King of Sweden and Norway, again, and Queen Liliuokalani.
Queen Victoria: Who on Earth is she?
Sir Henry Ponsonby: A monarch and, uh, sole Queen Regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Your Majesty. Uh, she has composed a song for you on the ukulele. Uh, but we have managed to put her off. Then you will eat with the Prime Minister ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The title doesn't appear until 16 minutes into the movie.

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: Tulip Fever (2017)

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Soundtracks

String Quartet in E Flat Major, Opus 1 No. 2, Minuetto
Written by Franz Joseph Haydn

User Reviews

I'm disappointed because I expected more from this movie.

Mainly for two reasons: 1) There were a few scenes (dialogue level) in which Abdul told the queen "half truths", or let the queen assume things (Victoria referred to those things while talking to him) without correcting her. Also, a few scenes Abdul had with another Hindo named Mohammed discussing the British people. 2) The romantic tinge being hinted over and over again.

And there are a few more things, but mentioning those might be spoilers.

Was Abdul a good guy? - OR was he an opportunist taking advantage of an old lady and the British people who took over India? I do believe he cared for her on some level, but that's the question I am going to take from this movie.