The Queen
(Great Britain/France/Italy, 2006, 100 minutes)
England 1997: after the death of princess Diana, the Queen of England refuses to allow a state funeral, misjudging the mood of the British people, and newly-elected Prime Minister Tony Blair tries to convince her otherwise. Fictional but remarkably credible approach to a true-life event that, despite the career-defining lead performance by Helen Mirren, an outstanding supporting cast, noteworthy production values and excellent handling, never manages to stop feeling like a glorified British TV movie.
Pathé Pictures presents a Granada production, in association with Pathé Renn Productions, BIM Distribuzione, France 3 Cinéma and Canal Plus. Starring Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Helen McCrory, Alex Jennings, Roger Allam; and Sylvia Syms. Directed by Stephen Frears; produced by Andy Harries, Christine Langan, Tracey Seaward; written by Peter Morgan; music by Alexandre Desplat; director of photography, Affonso Beato; production designer, Alan Macdonald; costume designer, Consolata Boyle; film editor, Lucia Zucchetti; archive consultant, Adam Curtis.
England 1997: after the death of princess Diana, the Queen of England refuses to allow a state funeral, misjudging the mood of the British people, and newly-elected Prime Minister Tony Blair tries to convince her otherwise. Fictional but remarkably credible approach to a true-life event that, despite the career-defining lead performance by Helen Mirren, an outstanding supporting cast, noteworthy production values and excellent handling, never manages to stop feeling like a glorified British TV movie.
Pathé Pictures presents a Granada production, in association with Pathé Renn Productions, BIM Distribuzione, France 3 Cinéma and Canal Plus. Starring Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Helen McCrory, Alex Jennings, Roger Allam; and Sylvia Syms. Directed by Stephen Frears; produced by Andy Harries, Christine Langan, Tracey Seaward; written by Peter Morgan; music by Alexandre Desplat; director of photography, Affonso Beato; production designer, Alan Macdonald; costume designer, Consolata Boyle; film editor, Lucia Zucchetti; archive consultant, Adam Curtis.
Comments
Both Diana and her brother, Charles Spencer, suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder caused by their mother's abandoning them as young children. A google search reveals that Diana is considered a case study in BPD by mental health professionals.
For Charles Spencer, BPD meant insatiable sexual promiscuity (his wife was divorcing him at the time of Diana's death). For Diana, BPD meant intense insecurity and insatiable need for attention and affection which even the best husband could never fulfill.
From a BPD perspective, it's clear that the Royal family did not cause her "problems". Rather, she brought her multiple issues into the marriage, and the Royal family was hapless to deal with them.
Her illness, untreated, sowed the seeds of her fast and unstable lifestyle, and sadly, her tragic fate.