20 years ago, Judi Dench scored an Oscar nomination for Mrs. Brown, about Queen Victoria’s (platonic) relationship with her servant, John Brown, following the death of how husband. Now Dench is stepping into Vicky’s shoes again for Victoria & Abdul.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘The extraordinary true story of an unexpected friendship in the later years of Queen Victoria’s (Academy Award winner Judi Dench) remarkable rule. When Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favour with the Queen herself. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle all attempt to destroy. As the friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes and joyfully reclaims her humanity.’

The movie is directed by Stephen Frears, who already has a bit of experience with regal movies, as he directed Helen Mirren in The Queen. The film will be in UK cinemas on September 15th. [Read more…]