The Young Victoria (2009)

"I'm sure you're aware why I wished you to come here. Because it would make me happier than anything, too happy really, if you would agree to what I wish."
"And stay with you?"
"And stay with me."
"And marry you?"
"And marry me!"
-Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.



I'd say the film that made me a fan of Emily Blunt was The Devil Wears Prada(2006). The viewer initially wants to hate her for what she says to Anne Hathaway's Andy, but, as the film goes on, you begin to realize that her character is actually quite pitiable.
The success of Prada boosted Blunt's career and one of her following films was this one, in which she plays Queen Victoria, who ruled the U.K. from 1837-1901 and remains its longest-reigning monarch.
The movie, produced by Martin Scorsese and written by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, follows the queen from her early years in which she found herself constricted by an otherwise-luxurious lifestyle during the final years of the reign of her uncle William IV (Jim Broadbent).
Following his death, Victoria takes to first steps to becoming a strong force, despite resistance from some people such as the Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson) and Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong).
Belgium's King Leopold I (Thomas Kretschmann) sends his nephew, Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) to England to seduce Victoria. Ironically, this eventually leads to genuine romance and marriage between the two.
It's the romance between Victoria and Albert which is the best part of the film, with both Blunt and Friend nicely illustrating the love and, at some moments, frustration shared between the two.
As with many historical period films, Victoria came under scrutiny for the liberty taken with some events. For example, Albert heroically takes a bullet for Victoria at one point in the film, although the real Albert was never shot.
But my wife, who has been to the U.K., was quick to point out that some of the sites depicted were not the real-life ones (for instance, although the film was shot in England, Lincoln Cathedral doubled for Westminster Abbey).
Despite this, the film does a great job at both capturing a piece of British history and for being a nice love story as well.