The Girl King (2015)

December 11, 2015 (CA) • Drama, History, Romance • 106m

Overview

A portrait of the brilliant, extravagant Kristina of Sweden, queen from age six, who fights the conservative forces that are against her ideas to modernize Sweden and who have no tolerance for her awakening sexuality.

Director

Mika Kaurismäki

Writer

Michel Marc Bouchard

Top Billed

Malin Buska

Keywords

marriage proposal strong woman queen sweden political negotiations forbidden love duty heir to the throne sexism based on true story unrequited love love interest gender roles madness 17th century

Where to watch

Free / Included

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Top Billed Cast

Malin Buska

Kristina

Sarah Gadon

Countess Ebba Sparre

Michael Nyqvist

Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna

Lucas Bryant

Count Johan Oxenstierna

Laura Birn

Countess Erika Erksein

Hippolyte Girardot

Ambassador Pierre Hector Chanut

Peter Lohmeyer

Bishop of Stockholm

François Arnaud

Karl Gustav Kasimir

Patrick Bauchau

René Descartes

Martina Gedeck

Maria Eleonora

Timo Torikka

Père Viogué

Jarmo Mäkinen

The General

Petri Aulin

Guard

Janina Berman

Abortion Nurse

Samuli Edelmann

King Gustav II Adolf

Gabriele Goria

Second Italian Jesuit

Mikko Kouki

Aide de Camp

Mikko Leppilampi

Count Magnus de la Gardie

Ville Virtanen

Doctor Van Wullen

Lotus Tinat

Young Queen Kristina

Jannis Niewöhner

Count Jakob de la Gardie

Sampo Sarkola

Theology Student

Pertti Sveholm

Kristina's Tutor

Lauri Tanskanen

Young Architect

Dodo Oltrecolli

First Italian Jesuit

Stefan Karlsson

Villager

Hugo Mikkola

Baby Kristina

Raimo Aarras

Court Painter

Minna Hämäläinen

Servant of Ebba and Jakob

Markus Järvenpää

Valet

Markus Lappalainen

Valet

Keijo Pennanen

Corpse

Eemeli Knuutila

Ebba and Jakob's Son

Michael Markfort

Queen Mother Attendant

Manni Laudenbach

Queen Mother Attendant

Sökö Kaukoranta

Queen Mother Attendant

Tero Jartti

Queen Mother Attendant

Kaarle Husgafvel

Chamber Orchestra

Eljas Tikanmäki

Chamber Orchestra

Eemil Tikanmäki

Chamber Orchestra

Juuso Nordlund

Chamber Orchestra

Anssi Tikanmäki

Chamber Orchestra

Kari Kuittinen

Kristina's Guard

Eero Karisalmi

Kristina's Guard

Jouni Röyskö

Kristina's Guard

Taina Malmikare

Elderly Lady-in-Waiting

Iiris Ahlström

Elderly Lady-in-Waiting

Oula Kitti

Axel's Guard / Johan's Kidnapper

Jari Uhlgren

Axel's Guard / Johan's Kidnapper

Lasse Piironen

Axel's Guard

Henry Jalava

Axel's Guard

Ville Venho

Axel's Guard

Sami Sainio

Axel's Guard

Ismo Reunamo

Axel's Guard

Antti Laaksovirta

Council of the Realm

Hannu Pajunen

Council of the Realm

Reijo Virtanen

Council of the Realm

Esa Vahanne

Council of the Realm

Jani Hyväri

Council of the Realm

Jukka Airi

Council of the Realm

Rauno Rissanen

Council of the Realm

Pekka Rantanen

Council of the Realm

Kari Rantanen

Council of the Realm

Esko Hörkkö

Council of the Realm

Matias Tähtinen

Johan's Kidnapper

Crew

Carole Gagnon

Dialogue Editor

Michel Marc Bouchard

Screenplay

Mika Kaurismäki

Director

Hans Funck

Editor

Guy Dufaux

Director of Photography

Anssi Tikanmäki

Original Music Composer

Jouni Kortesato

Runner Art Department

Arnie Gelbart

Producer

Eszter Lehtonen

Seamstress

Claire Pochon

ADR & Dubbing

Anna Stratton

Producer

Laura Munsterhjelm

Casting

Marjorie Hamel

Script Supervisor

Marjut Samulin

Makeup Designer

Jani Lehtinen

Gaffer

Rainer Kölmel

Producer

Jenny Lewis

Casting

Izabela Vuorio

Seamstress

Sara Kay

Casting

Tytti Helles

Seamstress

Jari Mutikainen

Steadicam Operator

Rachelle Bergeron

ADR & Dubbing

Mikko Kuivasto

Set Decoration

Kaarina Kopola

Seamstress

Annariina Kurvinen

Seamstress

Michel B. Bordeleau

ADR & Dubbing

Pia Pesonen

Casting

Andrus Prikk

First Assistant Camera

Isabelle Lussier

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Sasu Joutsi

Set Decoration

Peter Denomme

Visual Effects Producer

Tuomo Hintikka

Visual Effects Supervisor

Martin Persson

Producer

Petri Neuvonen

Production Design

Markku Pätilä

Production Design

Jon Campfens

Visual Effects Supervisor

Simon Meilleur

Foley

Arja Rasinkangas

Seamstress

Anja-Corinne Welter

ADR & Dubbing

Mika Kaurismäki

Producer

Beau Parsons

Visual Effects Coordinator

Wasiliki Bleser

Producer

Stefan Sosna

Second Unit Cinematographer

Jan Granström

First Assistant Camera

Marjatta Nissinen

Costume Design

Jarkko Liikanen

First Assistant Camera

Michel B. Bordeleau

Supervising Sound Editor

Tutsa Huuhka

Casting

Tommi Hourula

Property Master

Reviews

Reno

⭐ 6/10

August 10, 2017

**Caught between the national duty and a personal affair.**

A biographical film set in the 17th century about the queen of Sweden. If a film was made based on the real means it has to be something very important thing to tell us like about the person or the historical events surrounding that person. It is a good film to learn the history of that part of the world if you do not belong there, and even for the natives with less knowledge about it. Multi- nationally produced film with a decent cast and production in the English language despite a Scandinavian tale.

Besides, it is also a lesbian theme and one of the oldest real account I have seen in a film. Even today, not the whole world accepts it with the open arm. So on that perspective, I was curious about the film. Not to know how the film was made, but how they are, the real people dealt with such sexual concept in those days. Particularly, how the people around reacted to it. On that topic, the narration was not explicit. That means watching it expecting one of the best among its kind is a disappointment. But the film offers more from other angles of importance.

After her father's death, the young Kristina was trained all her childhood to be the next ruler of the Sweden. When she came of age to take the crown, her aim is to mark the presence of Sweden all over the Europe. She's a fine sword woman, but also very interested in philosophy and art. But she has never been so confused as one day when she felt something for a woman in her court. She begins to learn more about it from an expert and on the other side, her duty to the nation and its people seems not getting better. How the fate of Sweden and her personal life collides covered in the remaining parts.

> ❝I know how to set a bear trap, how to clean a musket, but I don't know how to place my lips on yours.❞

The film was not received well. Critically failed, but it was not that bad if you ask me. Yes, it was boring in parts, due to lack of progression. There's lots of things happened in the story, yet seems was not enough to impress its viewers. Especially switching between national duty and personal affairs strongly collides. Thus leaving both the subjects behind half baked. The real events took place for decades was put into a hundred minutes film did not justify. It's particularly about picking the right story segment to add in the screenplay and the some of the parts looked fine, but not the overall film.

On the other hand, some people might find it a propaganda. Protestants, Roman Catholic, I don't know which way it leans, but started with one way and ended with another. So it could be the end that counts. On the humanitarian ground, morally, all looked fine to me. So if that's what made this film to become prey, then it's a totally wrongly judged. Otherwise the film is acceptable for being a biopic, telling the truth. Of all the kings and queen of the world we learnt about, Kristina is different and one should know about her for that. I feel she was very modern and modern in the wrong century.

Born in the royal family, had all the power, it's very sad how her fate has changed at the end. But that's not the end of her tale. There's more to reveal, though this film covered only that takes place in the Sweden and being the ruler. I'll be happy if a sequel was made to tell her latter life and self-discovery. I'm sure it would be more a philosophical, but some people might raise the voice propaganda. Since this flick did not do well, that's not going to happen, I guess.

One of the reasons I wanted to watch it was Sarah Gadon. She was in one of the main roles, but had a less preference. The other actress was really good and she was almost in every frame of the film. It might not be the best film to represent the LGBT, but it had its share and definitely a decent film from all the other angles. Should have been better, that's what those who saw it would say and so am I. Once watchable, but it does not have quality to I say the word, recommended!

_6/10_

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The Girl King (2015)

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Reviews

Reno

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