History, Drama (UK — 1998)

England in 1554 is in financial and religious turmoil as the ailing Queen Bloody Mary attempts to restore Catholicism as the national faith. She has no heir, and her greatest fear--that her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth will assume the throne after her death--is realised. Still, the late Queen Mary has her loyalists. The newly crowned Elizabeth finds herself knee-deep in dethroning schemes while also dodging assassination attempts. Her advisers beg her to marry any one of her would-be suitors to stabilise England's empire. No matter that she already has a lover. The passionate Robert Dudley is married, however, and shows he cannot stand up to the growing strength of the Queen. With the help of her aide Walsingham, Elizabeth strikes against her enemies before they get to her first. But her rise ultimately entails rejecting love and marriage to redefine herself as the indisputable Virgin Queen.

Directed by: Shekhar Kapur
Written by: Michael Hirst
Produced by: Alison Owen, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston

Length: 118 mins.
Rating: 15 (BBFC)

Audio Tracks: en, de, hu
Subtitles: en, de, hu, tr
DVD/BD Region: 2
Purchased on: 14 November 2009