On Saturday Sam and I went to the Academy (as in The Academy, heh heh) to see a screening of The Young Victoria. I loved it. It’s a moving tale of how the young queen rejected a regency, came into power, had no idea what she was doing, married her 1st cousin, Albert, and ultimately went on to have 9 children and a successful run as monarch that lasted 20 years. The film is a grand love story that moves and swirls as Sam said, “like leaves in the wind.”
The only thing that slightly killed it for me in the light of day, was that they were 1st cousins. Yelck. I mean, they didn’t grow up together or anything – she was in England he was in Belgium. But still, 1st cousins? Isn’t that a little too close for having 9 kids? The stars of the movie are two very talented actors, Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend whom I’ve never heard of until now. When I Googled him I learned that he’s been working pretty much non-stop since his role in Pride and Prejudice in 2005. Coincidentally, this coincides with his meeting and subsequent dating of the famous, Keira Knightly. Strangely, he looks exactly like her Pirates of the Caribbean costar, Orlando Bloom. It’s uncanny when you see them side by side.
But back to The Young Victoria. Despite the kissing cousins thing, the story and the film and the combination of the both are fantastic and I wouldn’t be surprised if it won one of the Oscars it’s been nominated for. I give it a regal nod and a side-to-side wave with both hands. Go see it, you won’t be disappointed.