Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

Directed by: Shekhar Kapur | 114 minutes | biography, drama | Actors: Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Barker, Coral Beed, Morne Botes, Christian Brassington, Hayley Burroughs, Robert Cambrinus, Abbie Cornish, Jazz Dhiman, Adam Godley, Tom Hollander, Rhys Ifans, Dave Legeno, Jordi Mollà, Samantha Morton, Luke Mowatt, Clive Owen, Eddie Redmayne, Geoffrey Rush, Vidal Sancho

Crazy to make a sequel to a movie that seemed so standalone and was already so good. Apparently there was still enough to tell about the life of The Virgin Queen to fill a nearly two-hour sequel. A sequel that has been worked on for a long time: between ‘Elizabeth’ and the sequel ‘Elizabeth, The Golden Age’ was nine years, during which the Indian Shekhar Kapur directed one other film, ‘The Four Feathers’ from 2002. Five years after this less successful outing may be the result. While part I of the Elizabeth saga was already in a class of its own, Kapur takes it even further in part II.

The cast is excellent, with Clive Owen as adventurer Walter Raleigh, of course the ever-impressive Geoffrey Rush as her counselor and a fine role for Jordi Mollà, as King Philip II of Spain. The female roles are slightly less present, which is not surprising: essentially all the characters only act as a bed for the star of the story, Elizabeth herself, again played fantastically by Cate Blanchett, who seems to have been born for this role. How she brings to the screen the strength and dignity as well as the vulnerability of the head of state is impressive. Supported by all cinematic means, she sometimes almost transforms into an angel (that dress with those white transparent, wing-like ornaments!), which is sometimes a bit too much of a good thing.

In essence, the film is thematically the same as part I, Elizabeth struggles with her task as queen, which she seems to carry out with verve right from the start. Yet doubt and fear creep into her heart when the charming and charismatic Walter Raleigh turns her private life, if she has it, upside down. Raleigh is a man who might just be a candidate to give Elizabeth and England an heir to the throne. He appeals to her about her femininity, while of course she cannot forget her role as strict, but just mother of the people. Confusing for Elizabeth, especially now that the Spaniards threaten to attack England and the country demands decisiveness.

‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’ is a beautifully constructed narrative based on historical facts, which fortunately never takes on the air of a boring biography. On the contrary, the film is exciting and compelling. That’s because he’s loaded with emotions, which are conveyed well. The different aspects of the story are carefully spun out, without the construction becoming visible; the clever plan of the Spaniards, the inner struggle of Elizabeth and the people around her interact, whereby it is especially striking how three-dimensional the characters are portrayed.

Shekhar Kapur continues the line of the first part, which he also directed. With even more drama, slightly more exuberant costumes and a solid classical soundtrack, he drags the viewer through a web of conspiracies and emotions for almost two hours, without becoming too sentimental, too complicated or too violent. Everything is perfectly balanced and only serves the drama and narration. Towards the end, the heroism is still a bit too bold, especially around Sir Walter Raleigh, although it must be admitted that Elizabeth’s speech to her men is a historical fact. What a fierce person. So you see, real events are sometimes more dramatic than anyone can imagine on paper.