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Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of The Queen
Edward Mirzoeff

Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of The Queen

  • Documentary
RELEASE

1992-02-06

BUGET

N/A

LENGTH

107 min

Description

Join the BBC cameras as they go behind the glitter of Buckingham Palace and the pomp of Windsor Castle for a close-up look at the minutia of the monarchy. Culled from a year of unprecedented access to Queen Elizabeth II, the documentary trails the queen as she interacts one-on-one with her family, her staff, her public, and international heads of state. Go behind closed doors for Christmas with the royal family, eavesdrop on cocktail chatter with Ron and Nancy Reagan, and catch unguarded moments when the queen pilots her own jeep or romps with her dogs. Elizabeth R. is a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into the everyday life of a queen.

Reviews

CinemaSerf PFP

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

Made for the BBC as Queen Elizabeth II celebrated the fortieth anniversary of her reign in 1992, Edward Mirzoeff takes a camera crew to follow the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as events in their year unfold. There are the grand scale ceremonial events, diplomatic functions and some more intimate familial occasions all narrated informatively and sympathetically by Ian Holm. It is an officially sanctioned product, so we see nothing here untoward - but given the nature of the subject and purpose of the documentary in the first place, that's hardly surprising. What we have here is a highly polished chronology of a year in the life of a lady who clearly has spirit and enthusiasm for her roles in the UK and elsewhere, as well as a passion for her horses and a sense of mischief and love of family. The narrative doesn't dwell on negatives, it's a positive affirmation of a woman dedicated to her responsibilities, is well put together and nicely scored by Rachel Portman. Yes, republicans will probably hate it - but that's maybe the problem they have. Despite the obvious anachronisms of monarchy and inherited power, when the incumbent commands respect and delivers integrity like this, it makes for a very hard target to politicise - and what's clear here is the Queen knows exactly what path to tread - especially with Margaret Thatcher, but also with a plethora of other global figures who have no need of her favour nor company but courted it nonetheless - regardless of their own political beliefs. A lesson in statesmanship, sanitised and rose-tinted, but still effective.