“The Young Victoria”, a look at the start of England’s Victorian Age
Written by Stan Robinson on Monday, 21 December 2009 19:57   
Period films are some of my favorites; they provide the portal to travel to the past as a first hand observer of historical events and the essence of the lives of the time. “The Young Victoria” gives us a view of Alexandrina Victoria, (dropping the use of her first name) who’s reign as Queen (20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901) lasted 63 years, longer than any other British monarch before or since, and her reign is the longest of any female monarch in history. Her reign is known as the ‘Victorian era’, a period of industrial, political, scientific, and military progress in the United Kingdom. On her 18th birthday, she (Emily Blunt) becomes queen and is faced with those items she feels necessary to address including the state of the economic condition of her lower class subjects, and tested constantly the power of a monarchy and that of government. And, because of her young age, those around her sought, on various levels and reasons, to further their own gains. The one constant and stabilizing force in her life, Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) her first cousin. This look at the turbulent first years of Queen Victoria’s rule, including assassination attempts, power struggles, and her enduring romance and marriage with Prince Albert (he was 20 years old), who was her foundation for the first twenty years of her reign until his death in 1861. During that time they put in motion reforms in education, welfare, and industry, as well as support for the arts and sciences that are prevalent to this day.
 
Historians have often commented that it was during the reign of Queen Victoria and the course she set in motion, is the foundation of the relationship between the monarchy and English government as the country moved into the modern era of the 1900’s. If period films are among your favorites, “The Young Victoria” is a ‘must see’ on my list. Starring Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent, Thomas Kretschmann, Mark Strong, Jesper Christensen, and Harriet Walter. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée; written by Julian Fellowes; Sony Pictures Entertainment release. Rated PG for some mild sensuality, a scene of violence, and brief incidental language, and smoking. Runtime: 100 minutes.
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