La Reine garçon

Watching the score of this film here on IMDb I was not very eager to watch this film. I did anyway and did not regret any minute. Of course a lot of aspects a persons life disappear in a movie of 2 hours. But a film should be watched as a separate piece of art. And this piece is simply beautiful and enjoyable! I had never heard of Kristina of Sweden before, and I really like being introduced to her. Very interesting person in history. And certainly not only because she loved women, because that is of all times. Her ideas and curiosity made a change in history. That is what triggered me to find out more about her. And the low score here triggered me to write a review. This film deserves much better!

In 1632, protestant King Gustav of Sweden is killed on the battlefield. His daughter Kristina is the heir. Europe is engulfed with the conflict between Protestants and Catholics. Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna (Michael Nyqvist) takes Kristina away from her mad mother. In 1644, Kristina (Malin Buska) takes the throne. Axel's son Johan is desperate to marry her but she lusts for Countess Ebba Sparre (Sarah Gadon). Her love of the works of noted Catholic René Descartes and her pursuit of peace endanger support from the court.

There is a chance that this is hampered by history. This should be a queer love story but it has more than that which keeps it from taking off. It struggles to put the drama over the history. Swedish actress Buska is fine but she is limited. It's compelling history but it's less compelling cinema.

Kristina inherited the throne of Sweden at the age of six when her father dies in the religious wars that gripped Europe in the Seventeenth Century i.e.; fighting Papism. Her father had brought her up as a prince and she was accustomed to manly pursuits. Taken under the wing of Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna played brilliantly by Michael Nyqvist ('100 Code' and 'Europa Report').

She however has a mind of her own and is taken by the new thinking and philosophers of the time like Rene Descartes all of which are rejected by the austere Protestantism that her country has fought for. She also is a bit opposed to marriage and the many courtiers that come 'a wooing' her. Contrastingly she is enamoured with a certain Lady in Waiting and soon is breaking with more than one convention in pursuit of what she really wants.

Now this is a pan European production but is mainly in English with a tad of German and French. The acting is all top notch and the period detail is spot on too. This though is a personal view of the woman rather that a wider view of European politics and so is told on a smaller canvas than I was expecting. That said it is thoroughly watchable and is a noteworthy production – I wish it had been in Swedish though but English is now the Lingua Franca it would appear – so this is one that should appeal to lovers of modern European cinema who like a bit of spice in their lead roles.

Palm Springs International Film Festival- Film Review: The Girl King. Director Mika Kaurismaki and Writer Michel Marc Bouchard bring to the screen the tale of Sweden's 17th-century monarch Kristina, who takes the thrown at the age of six and later assumes the power over her country at the age of 18. The fact that she is a woman now reigning of the country run by men, takes a back seat to her desire to change her country from war and division to a society of peace. While this battle to turn her people around is fought by many, there is an underlying need/call for her to marry and producer an off-spring. Yet, with many a handsome suitor at her taking (including Lucas Bryant and François Arnaud), Kristina (Malin Buska) has eyes on her lady-in-waiting Countess Ebba Sparreat (Sarah Gadon). For a film that is relatively unknown (except in the Gay/Lesbian arena), this small film is produced with excellence, featuring terrific acting, period piece costumes, intriguing dialogue and storyline that keeps the audience waiting to see what Kristina will do with her life. Small independent films that pack a wallop like "The Girl King" are what Film Festivals are all about.

I mean it's not terrible, as long as you don't mind being lied to about history, and possibly missing out on THE MOST interesting parts of her life. If you do watch it... do yourself the favor of doing a little research after it's over to learn what actually happened to her... that's the fascinating part.