"Victoria and Abdul" Directed by Stephen Frears Stars Judi Dench and an All Star Int'l Cast

Queen Victoria of the UK & Empress of India is the longest reigning monarch;1837-1901.  Dir. Stephen Frears (b UK 1941) ("The Queen" starring Helen Mirren) soon to be released film is about Queen Victoria, the endlessly fascinating privileged aristocracy lifestyle and a myopic focus on the mysterious & little known & unlikely friendship between the Queen & an Indian commoner Abdul (a mesmerizing Ali Fazal {b India 1986}).  Abdul and a compatriot from India (rising star, Adeel Akhtar "The Big Sick") are ordered/privileged to travel to England to present Queen Victoria a Mohair, India's  distinguished medal of honor for the Queen's 50th Jubilee.  This exquisite and sumptuous looking film occurs during the Queens waning reign depicting a discreet & little known relationship between Abdul & the Queen.  This unlikely companionship sprung from an abject presenting of the Mohair to the Queen who becomes intrigued by the swarthy & sexy Abdul, a subject of India; she is the Empress of India but knows very little of nor has ever visited.  Dame Judi Dench plays the ailing Queen with a steely hand, and healthy appetite.   Dench will be bestowed an Oscar nom. for her imperial performance.  Dench is surrounded by an elite cast of British actors including Sir Michael Gambon as her befuddled advisor, Eddie Izzard as "Bertie" the Queen's son & successor King Edward VII, Simon Allow, Olivia Williams and Fenella Woolgar.  Beautifully filmed, brilliantly acted and an heretofore hidden (destroyed) niche in British Royalty history add up to a crowning achievement in cinema.   Bertie is disdained by his mother & is bent on dismissing Abdul & his family from England upon the Queen's death.  As King, he unceremoniously dismisses Abdul back to India & destroys all photos, journals & evidence of Abudl's presence & connection to his mother, Queen Victoria.  In 2010, a journal of Abdul's was discovered in India that was irrefutably written on the Royal Household's ledger documenting his service & friendship with the Queen.  I consider this film Oscar gold but it's unlikely to garner mass appeal among the masses.  Still, this gem of a film is a jewel in the crown.