La Reine garçon

I mean it's not terrible, as long as you don't mind being lied to about history, and possibly missing out on THE MOST interesting parts of her life. If you do watch it... do yourself the favor of doing a little research after it's over to learn what actually happened to her... that's the fascinating part.

In 1632, protestant King Gustav of Sweden is killed on the battlefield. His daughter Kristina is the heir. Europe is engulfed with the conflict between Protestants and Catholics. Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna (Michael Nyqvist) takes Kristina away from her mad mother. In 1644, Kristina (Malin Buska) takes the throne. Axel's son Johan is desperate to marry her but she lusts for Countess Ebba Sparre (Sarah Gadon). Her love of the works of noted Catholic René Descartes and her pursuit of peace endanger support from the court.

There is a chance that this is hampered by history. This should be a queer love story but it has more than that which keeps it from taking off. It struggles to put the drama over the history. Swedish actress Buska is fine but she is limited. It's compelling history but it's less compelling cinema.

Guys, I'm pretty sure they're just really good friends. REALLY good friends..

I caught this film entirely by accident, with zero expectations or knowledge of the subject matter. I am unqualified to speak to the historicity of the events. But if it is close to historical events, what a beautiful film was made of it. Dealing with politics and religion and feminism, it is a rare little gem.

Christina, the Queen (actually "King") of Sweden from 1632 (age 6) until 1654, was tutored by a unique man, and grew up to be a young woman with curiosity about the world and a taste for life, she shook the institutions of the day, with an unkind mixture of success and failures. The film is mostly in English with a little French (accompanied by subtitles), the actors do a fine job, and I really appreciated the makeup team's subtle approach. I might have appreciated a script less focused on romance and more on personality and accomplishments, but then again, in our 20s, hormones can dominate all.

Palm Springs International Film Festival- Film Review: The Girl King. Director Mika Kaurismaki and Writer Michel Marc Bouchard bring to the screen the tale of Sweden's 17th-century monarch Kristina, who takes the thrown at the age of six and later assumes the power over her country at the age of 18. The fact that she is a woman now reigning of the country run by men, takes a back seat to her desire to change her country from war and division to a society of peace. While this battle to turn her people around is fought by many, there is an underlying need/call for her to marry and producer an off-spring. Yet, with many a handsome suitor at her taking (including Lucas Bryant and François Arnaud), Kristina (Malin Buska) has eyes on her lady-in-waiting Countess Ebba Sparreat (Sarah Gadon). For a film that is relatively unknown (except in the Gay/Lesbian arena), this small film is produced with excellence, featuring terrific acting, period piece costumes, intriguing dialogue and storyline that keeps the audience waiting to see what Kristina will do with her life. Small independent films that pack a wallop like "The Girl King" are what Film Festivals are all about.