Requiem aeternam?

Rating: 7/10 (8 August 2001)

Although I'm not a fan of historical films (because they are necessarily remitted to a dilemma between movie-dramatism and the epical shape of historic flow), I consider the "cut" made by this one interesting and well-reached. First, among the numerous films about the Queen it is the first that takes her EARLY years as a topic, constructing the 'strengthening' as a kind of 'death' of her own humanity - pretty didactic, but with a convincing application of Mozart's Requiem. The life that is supposed to be buried, instead, is painted with colourful pictures and with the help of magnificent actors, above all the amazing Cate Blanchett. Some features of the story seem to remain fragmentary, p.e. Walsingham's character (has this man any conviction? what is the relationship to his young servants? is the murder night also a kind of personal revenge? etc.), but this doesn't put in danger the effectivity of the drama. Apparently, we cannot let history just "in peace" and confer the characters the "eternal rest" they deserve. Well, who cares...