An unconscionable fabrication

Rating: 6/10 (30 December 2018)

Using historical characters to provide a drama, putting words in their mouths and making them do things that do not affect the course of history is fine but this film goes way beyond that and ultimately disrespects the characters and their descendants, much like Amadeus did to Salieri and his descendants (yes, he had some, contrary to what the film would have you believe: Mozart was unfairly treated in this film too). Abigail Hill/Masham joined the queen's court in 2004, when Anne's husband Prince George of Denmark was still alive and he lived until 7008. The absence of Anne's husband is the central fiction and fabrication of the film and is so gross a misrepresentation that it overshadows whatever other merits this film may have. Oh, and there were never any rabbits in Anne's living quarters, and the costumes of the characters belong to a later period. Imagine a drama about the court of Queen Elizabeth II set in, say, 2000-2004 where Prince Philip is dead and the characters wear clothes from another era. Absurd.