Victoria & Abdul

This revelatory historical period piece tells the story of an improbable friendship that enhanced the elderly British monarch Queen Victoria's final years. Bookended by a prologue/conclusion in India, the dramedy begins with a vivid depiction of how 81-year-old Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) was weary and utterly bored by her royal duties. One evening at dinner, she spots Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a tall, turbaned Muslim servant recently dispatched to London from Agra, along with Mohammed (Adeel Akhtar), to present Her Majesty with a ceremonial coin for her 1887 Golden Jubilee. Ignoring protocol, guileless Abdul not only makes eye contact with the Queen but also kisses her shoe. The next day, she demands that both men remain at court. Abdul soon becomes her “Munshi” (teacher/spiritual advisor) and constant companion, piquing her interest in the Urdu language and the tenets of Islam. As Empress of India, she is curious about the country and its culture, which increasingly appalls her bigoted, jealous courtiers, including Sir Henry Ponsonby (Tim Pigott-Smith) and the resentful Prince of Wales (Eddie Izzard), the future King Edward VII. Inevitably, complications arise, revolving around Abdul's marital status and health, but the pair remain close friends for 14 years, until Victoria's death in 1901. Adapted from Shrabani Basu's 2010 book, Queen Victoria's handwritten journals in Urdu, and Abdul Karim's private notebooks, the film discreetly skirts the obvious racial and colonial aspects of the story. But by coupling Dench with Bollywood's Fazal, director Stephen Frears is able to ignite an irresistible chemistry between the pair. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette (7 min.), and a “Judi & Ali” segment with costars Judi Dench and Ali Fazal (5 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for an engaging period drama.] (S. Granger)