Her Majesty (2001)

In this charming and inspirational story, a young girl's unusual friendship with an old woman outcast from society transforms an entire community. As a rural New Zealand town excitedly prepares for a visit from the Queen of England, the townspeople pressure Hira, an elderly Maori woman (Vicky Haughton, Whale Rider), to sell her rickety shack that has long been an embarrassment to the town. No one is more excited to meet the Queen than 13-year-old Elizabeth, but when she meets Hira and hears her compelling stories of her tribe's history and culture, she is forever changed and moved by the old woman's great wisdom and kindness. Now the friendship sends troubling repercussions through the rest of her life and could cost her everything she has long cherished. A touching drama for all ages, this endearing, bittersweet coming-of-age tale about one young girl's struggle for justice will leave you cheering!

Outstanding and Inspirational: A Must View if You Have a Teenager

This is an outstanding and inspirational film with a beautiful soundtrack. Its message of listening to your inner-voice despite societal and peer pressure is must viewing for both adults and teenagers. If you have a teenager in your family--since the protagonist is a 13-year-old girl--this film can stimulate a worthwhile family discussion about resisting peer pressure. December 22, 2008

Nice movie about New Zealand

This is a nice movie in which one learns a lot about New Zealand culture. The protagonist is a likeable young girl and the Maori lady is a very interesting one. i found it under the Family film genre, and I'm not quite sure I'd put it under that category. While the protagonist is young there were a few of the more minor swear words in the movie, an underlying crush between the girl and her much older marching instructor, and a touch of idolatry in one scene. Admittedly, the film leaves one with a nice and pleasant feeling. But I'm not sure I'd watch it with impressionable youngsters. July 3, 2008

Excellent Storyline, BUT. . . . . . .

The storyline of this movie would have made a great family film; the leading girl, Elizabeth, is a precious, worthy child-full of loyalty and goodness. BUT there are also some VERY BAD, unnecessary sections. Elizabeth's older brother has the most vulgar, disgusting mouth. He cusses several times and is down right cruel to his sister. His conduct towards her is abominable. Elizabeth has a crush on her adult band director and in her brother's mean attempt to show her the band director would not return her regard, he makes reference to her youth and flat chest. The brother basically ruined this film.

The married Mayor has an affair with the head commitee lady.

Omit the Mayor section and the evil brother and you have a wonderful film!
BE WARNED!!!!! This is NOT a family movie. Had we known the content we wouldn't have purchased it. May 14, 2008

A Superb Family Film

I recently bought the DVD of "Her Majesty" from Amazon, and I have found it one of the best family films I have ever seen. Virtually everything about this movie is near perfect.

Set in 1953 New Zealand, this movie features an all local cast who give stellar performances.

The story- a mixture of fact and fantasy- is believable and just complex enough to keep both adult and child viewers entralled.

Sally Andrews plays the central character, 12 year-old Elizabeth Wakefield, and she gives an enchanting performance of an independent and determined girl. This was Andrews first movie, and she is captivating.

Excellent too are her parents and an odious older brother who tries to capsize her efforts at every turn.

Buy this DVD for your collection ! September 28, 2007

Fantasies, Truth, Justice, and Redemption

This 2001 film shows off the beauty of New Zealand, and recreates the grace and charm of its society in the 1950s when it hosted the newly coronated Queen Elizabeth II.
In some ways, I view this fictional story of a fantasy-prone teenaged girl as a counterpart to the tragic true-to-life story of two fantasy-prone teenaged girls in need of a reality check, portrayed in Peter Jackson's "Heavenly Creatures", which took place in New Zealand around the same time. But Director Mark J. Gordon's tale is heartwarming and triumphant.
With her large eyes and crooked smile, Sally Andrews gives a sincere performance as Elizabeth Wakefield, a dreamy 13-year-old living in Middleton, New Zealand in 1953, with her cheesemonger father (Mark Clare), mother(Alison Routledge), delinquent brother Stuart (Craig Elliott), and dog, Kupe (Hercules).
She is a civic-minded young girl who enjoys school, being part of the marching squad, time spent with her best friend, Annabel Leach(Anna Sheridan), and determinedly writing letters to the Queen, enthralled by the pomp and splendor of the recent coronation.
The postman, Nigel Osgood(Geoff Snell), left mute in battle during World War II, empathizes with her plight. He will come through for the young girl at a very critical moment, and will receive a miracle of his own.
Elizabeth also has a schoolgirl's crush on her handsome young marching instructor, Ian Dixon (Cameron Smith), and the audience is treated to a cute dream sequence involving that issue. But realistically, she will experience a disappointment there.
When her brother throws a brick through the window of a the small shack where an old Maori chief's daughter resides, Elizabeth smashes his piggybank, and accompanied by a frightened and reluctant Annabel, leaves money for reparation of the window.
When she goes back later to retrieve her shoe, the old woman, Hira Mata ("Whale Rider's" superb Vicky Haughton)angirly confronts her about the breakage of her window, and Elizabeth gradually finds the answer for her brother's conduct. The young girl gradually begins to spend time talking to Hira and is given a different perspective on local history from the one she normally hears. Later, after the two discuss the new Queen's scheduled visit to Middleton, Hira tells the young girl about a tragedy that befell her family and tribe at the hands of locals in the wake of a previous Royal visit.
Sobered by Hira's story, Elizabeth must find a way to reconcile the old woman's teachings with the desires of the local White population, as well as those of her family--who have a connection to Hira's tragedy--and her own dreams of meeting the Queen.
The pompous, vain, arrogant, and immoral Virginia Hobson (the late Liddy Holloway), President of the Rhododendron Trust, and chairwoman of the Royal Welcoming Committee (who had intially scoffed at Elizabeth's letter-writing campaign inviting the Queen to Middleton)and the ladies' club to which Elizabeth's mother belongs, creates difficulties for Hira and the Wakefields as the big day approaches. But one redeeming aspect of that situation is that Mrs. Wakefield is not one of Mrs. Hobson's brownnosers, unlike her fellow committee members. In due time, Mrs. Hobson's mysterious influence over the Mayor(David Stott) and decisons about what the Queen will see in the town, will be exposed.
Elizabeth displays a lot of moral courage in standing up on behalf of Hira, even the wake of her father's admonishments about visiting her, harassment by her brother and schoolmates, and the near loss of her friendship with Annabel.
The great day in question will find one more major obstacle in Elizabeth's way, which she overcomes partially with advice from Hira, and help from Kupe and Annabel.
It will prove to be a day of justice, and redemption in more ways than one as the young Queen (Rachel E. Wallis)and Prince Phillip (Andrew Bolton) arrive,and a young girl's dream comes true, proving to be beneficial to Hira as well. To everyone's suprise the Queen's--and consequentially the town's-- attention will be drawn to a part of town that many had shunned, but which was wholly deserving of attention on that grand occasion.
As the Royal party depart, there is a wonderful spirit of alacrity among the townspeople, and a sense of satisfaction from the visibly moved Hira that the past has been reconciled in the present, and a sense that two young friends will have glowing memories to share with posterity. June 8, 2007

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