ARTICLES,
REVIEWS,
ESSAYS,
&
PRESENTATIONS on TEACHING
ENGLISH
ARTICLES,
REVIEWS,
ESSAYS,
&
PRESENTATIONS on TEACHING
ENGLISH
Films with Class
By David Ferguson
Click here to read Ferguson's suggestions for teaching the film Amazing Grace.
Click to read Ferguson's best films of 2006, 2005, and 2004.
The Queen (2006), directed by Stephen Frears, rated PG-13, written by Peter Morgan, nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture
The Queen is a docudrama based on the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death and how it was handled by the public, the media, the British government and especially the Royal Family.
“Uneasy lies a head that wears the crown” -- Henry IV, part II
This quote flashes at the beginning of the film as we are whisked behind the scenes of Buckingham Palace and inside the communal existence of the Royal Family. We see Phillip as an odd character, totally out of touch with reality and the social changes occurring within the boundaries of his homeland. Prince Charles is portrayed as a caring father and a bullied son whose thoughts carry little weight with the matriarch … Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen Mum seems to be the Queen’s only real trusted advisor and sounding board. Together this troupe lives in near isolation from outsiders, though the Queen does seem to spend a great deal of time watching broadcast news.
The film presents numerous topics with the potential for lively classroom debate or thought-provoking writing projects:
1. The effectiveness of the Monarchy vs. a Democratically-elected government. Watching the two entities maneuver and attempt to relate to each other is at times humorous and painful. Newly-elected Prime Minister Tony Blair, minding his manners as he attempts to advise the Queen, is a perfect example of political savvy and statesmanship.
2. The power of the Media … specifically paparazzi. Do celebrities forfeit their right to privacy? Is that the “Price of Fame”? What is the income level that would motivate you to give up your anonymity? Are the paparazzi just doing their job – providing a service? Or is it one of the lowest professions … hiding in bushes, spying on famous people? What about the power of TV news as it telecasts the reaction of the British people?
3. Phenomenon of public mourning over the death of a celebrity. What causes people to bring flowers, cry in public and hang out for days as they mourn the death of someone they never met? Why do they take it so personally? Why do they feel the connection? What about other public figures and the reaction to their death – Elvis, Ronald Reagan, the Pope, Mother Theresa, Joseph Stalin.
4. Mourning. Discuss the Royal Family and their quiet dignity in the face of tragedy. What is the best method for dealing and acceptance? Is it vocalizing one’s memories of the deceased, or is it through solitude and mediation? What about the differences in how some people choose to handle their own mourning?
5. The quiet dignity and tradition of a stoical monarchy vs. the energy and personality of the modernists. Social change is sometimes gradual and sneaky. Other times it is quite noisy. Compare the changes of the British people to the 1960’s revolution in the U.S. How does change occur within a country? How do traditions survive when the changes occur? Is it important to retain tradition?
6. Negotiation through weakness – acknowledging the “other side”. Tony Blair was a newly elected Prime Minister who had his finger on the pulse of the British public. His meetings and phone conversations with the Queen were pure negotiations from a master. He realized his power was in his understanding of the people, yet he also understood what was important to the Queen. That knowledge made him a most effective negotiator.
7. Role of the deer – the antlers symbolize the crown and the loneliness that goes with it. “It’s lonely at the top”. Why did the Queen so connect with the majestic deer? She related both to his immense presence and the fact that so many were trying to take him down. It’s sad, but she obviously related better to animals than people. Just watch how her face lights up upon seeing the deer or walking with her dogs.
8. Princess Diana as a human being or celebrity or idol. She is known both as a marvelous humanitarian and, by some, as an ungrateful and unappreciative member of the Royal Family. The public loved her, even worshipped her, but she was never really accepted by the Royal Family and never seemed to put forth the effort to allow them to do so. Undoubtedly one of the most photographed people on the face of the earth, for Diana, privacy was elusive at best, non-existent at worst.
While the film may seem a bit slow for younger students, those from 6th grade and up should easily relate to many of the topics covered and comprehend the tragic nature of Diana’s death and subsequent frenzy of that next week. When Prime Minister Tony Blair states, “Will someone save these people from themselves!”, we understand exactly what he means! There is much to learn here from the pain, the tragedy, the power struggles and the unprecedented live broadcast of the varying reactions to the death of Princess Diana.