In 1933, Greta Garbo famously played Sweden's 17th-century Queen Christina as a monarch torn between duty and love. The Girl King serves up a more raucous version of the life of the reluctant royal. Groomed to run a kingdom during a protracted war between Lutherans and Catholics in Europe (Sweden was a Lutheran country), Kristina (Malin Buska)—rather than “Christina”—is a free-thinking progressive who is intent on turning Sweden into a jewel of intellectual and artistic ambition. But the queen is criticized in her own court as being too distracted and casual when it comes to essential responsibilities. Among these is her obligation to take a husband and give birth to an heir—which she steadfastly refuses to do. Equally stunning to her counselors is Kristina's agenda to create peaceful relations with the pope and Catholic Church. Smitten with one of her ladies-in-waiting (Sarah Gadon), this queen indeed takes a lover, but not one that suits her longtime mentor (Michael Nyqvist). Patrick Bauchau costars as Kristina's favorite thinker, René Descartes. A handsome period biography, deftly directed by Mika Kaurismaki, this is recommended. (T. Keogh)
The Girl King
Wolfe, 102 min., not rated, DVD: $24.95 Volume 31, Issue 2
The Girl King
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