Review of Queen`s Sister, The

Introduction

TV biopic movies are something that we seem to do rather well here in the UK. The U.S seems to turn out biopics with alarming regularity. Often schmaltzy, they tend towards the generous, idolising their subjects and lending their lives a neat continuity that makes condensing (literally) a lifetime into 90 short minutes possible. Here in the UK we do rather better (think Kenneth William`s biopic `Fantabulosa`) and `The Queen`s Sister` is just such an example.

This movie opens with the disclaimer: "Some of the following is based on fact. And some isn`t." Which is a neat way to avoid litigation.

The truth is that `The Queen`s Sister` is a warts and all documentary that holds no punches. It traces four decades in the life of the Queen`s Sister, from the Coronation in 1954, through to the more recent times.

It`s not that the overall picture painted here is good or bad, but rather it`s a combination of good and bad. It feels firm but fair.

Lucy Cohu ("Gosford Park") is magnificent in the title role, which allows her to ham it up endlessly, portraying Princess Margaret as a lady who`s lust for life takes her on an endless emotional roller-coaster ride. Here Margaret is portrayed as virtually bereft of morality (once her true love is denied through Royal protocol), effectively going on a 25-year bender at the expense of the British taxpayer - and losing her popularity as a result.

Known affectionately as "the people`s princess," we see her wed a photographer, Anthony Armstrong-Jones (Toby Stephens), which led to the very first televised royal wedding, and culminating in the very first royal divorce.

Whilst Margaret`s life is portrayed with an air of realism (the camera is constantly on the move) there is something a little patronising about the reactions of the `common man` in this picture. Necessarily simplistic (due to the life in 90 minutes syndrome) this jars with the very real feeling personal drama played so convincingly by Lucy Cohu.

The make-up department should be applauded for some of the best on-screen aging that I`ve ever seen, rendering Cohu absolutely believable as both a young girl and an old lady, as well as everything in-between.

Overall, it`s nicely directed and Cohu is ably supported by a well-chosen cast (including Eddie Tudorpole in a delicious moment of Jubilee year irony).

Video

This is a nice transfer of a recently produced programme. The picture is detailed and crisp, despite the deliberately `hand-held` feel to much of the material. Produced on film, it all looks great.

Audio

Good workmanlike stereo audio. This is a recent TV movie and you get good quality TV Movie sound.

Features

None.

Conclusion

It`s a little hard to imagine who the film will appeal to most. I imagine the first to reach for their wallets to buy this DVD will be lovers of all things Royal, though any reading this should be warned that there are some fairly graphic sexual scenes, a scene where Margaret cracks jokes about a female impersonator`s exposed genitals, and drug-taking scenes aplenty. This will certainly offend those who like to keep their Royals on a pedestal. But it`s hard to imagine that this would appeal to anti-Royalists either because, well, they`re anti-Royal. In truth, had I not received this disc I wouldn`t have considered watching it.

Where its appeal ultimately lies in its expose of a secret life, in a slightly gossipy way. In short, its ultimate appeal will be to those legions of `Footballers Wives` fans who yearn for a little bit more scandal and controversy to add colour to relatively mundane lives. And this is a whole lot better than just that.

I think this would have been a difficult film to make whilst Margaret was alive and I feel certain that the sensational portrayal of Margaret as a bi-sexual drug-taker may well have upset not only her sister, but all Royals and Royalists. Though I feel certain that director Simon Cellan-Jones and producer Kath Mattock won`t lose any sleep over that.

For a TV biopic, this was surprisingly good and Lucy Cohu sparkles in the title role. Worth a look.