Mrs Brown (1997)

80%

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Clever drama about Queen Victoria that manages to get under the skin of royalty and the enervating nature of too much pomp and too much circumstance. Mr John Brown is a kind of non-sinister Rasputin who brings the House of Windsor back to life after the death of the Albert but with implications of sexual dalliance with the lower orders. The paparazzi of the period try to create a scandal through the usual rumor and insinuation; while the Prince of Wales - as today - worries when and if he shall ever become king.

Becoming 'Mrs Brown' makes for such unpopularity in the UK that calls are made for the disestablishment of the monarchy itself. Here the film does not explore the deeper political implications of its theme in order to make a more emotional drama that would have otherwise been the case. Instead we have here a romance that crosses social class lines and shows their superstitious nature while at the same time showing the very reason for their permanence: Fear of revealing personal weakness. As with the parasitism of the upper-class, the kowtowing of the lower-class is shown as examples of mutual dependency.

Of course, Judi Dench is excellent as a self-indulgent and pampered middle-aged lady who simply refuses to grow up away from her needy emotional dependency. The clash between the British establishment and its manic desire for self-preservation at all costs is well-presented in its willingness to use violence of all kinds. Like The Queen this presents a rather affectionate look at an essentially empty cultural institution that lasts because without it there would be so few themes in White culture to make good movies about.

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