The Girl King – Review

Though telling a distinctively Swedish tale, set in the Scandinavian nation, and featuring a predominantly Swedish cast, Mika Kaurismaki’s The Girl King instantly gets off on the wrong foot when presented in the English language. Suddenly the intentions to appeal to a broader market (and thus make more money) are clear, where the one, paramount concern, should really be that of the story being told in the most authentic manner possible, which this sadly isn’t.

Set in the 17^th century, Queen Kristina (Malin Buska) is placed on the throne from the age of just six following the untimely death of her father on the battlefield. As her mother suffers psychologically following the passing of her husband, the young Queen finds herself surrounded, suffocated, by men, putting pressure on her to marry and produce an heir; with the Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna (Michael Nyqvist) an affectionate, if demanding presence. However when she does finally fall in love, it’s not with one of her many male admirers – instead finding sanctuary, and solace, with the lady-in-waiting, Countess Ebba Sparre (Sarah Gadon).

One of the regrettable misgivings that derive from a film featuring actors not speaking in their native tongue, is the palpable lack of naturalism, as the dialogue seems stilted in its delivery, not bringing out the best in the performers. There’s a playful sense of melodrama prevalent in this title however, affectionately employed in a way that matches the sensibilities of the period drama, as we find that semblance of humanity that we can relate to, connecting us to a world hundreds of years old, tied together through the notion of flaws and imperfections amongst people, just as we’ve seen in the likes of Downton Abbey, Versailles and recently, Love and Friendship. The romance is not particularly well-crafted however, and while seemingly the crux of the narrative, it doesn’t feel as though it’s been built up to significantly enough, not quite earning the viewer’s emotional investment from the offset, as we don’t get a sense for the strength of their love – which, considering what is at stake, must have been quite intense.

It’s one of many themes we attempt to cover within this production, without ever truly revelling in any one in particular, creating a film devoid of true focus. There is no denying just how rich and absorbing this particular narrative is, it’s sadly just not been executed quite efficiently enough.