If you like period dramas with a lesbian flair – this one is for you. Although this particular piece of historical fiction may be more fiction than historical. In the movie, set in the 1600s, Sweden’s Queen Kristina (Malin Buska) falls for her lady-in-waiting Countess Ebba Sparre (Sarah Gadon). In real life, Kristina liked to wear pants, ride horses and general act like a tomboy. To top it off she refused to marry. So, if there is such a thing as historical gaydar then I’d say she was likely gay. But there seems to be little to no actual proof of that fact. Whether Kristina loved the ladies or not, she was one of the few European female monarchs and a pivotal historic figure. The film does touch on some of Kristina’s contributions as queen, like bringing peace to Sweden and advocating for arts and education. I found Malin Buska’s performance to be a little flat. I felt like the movie only scratched the surface of every facet it covered though. It didn’t delve deeply into her relationship with Ebba, her political struggles or her religious ambivalence. Perhaps it was too much to tackle in an hour and 42 minutes. Maybe they should have made it a BBC miniseries instead. It’s worth a look if you want a glimpse into the life of a bold queen who helped shape the future of Sweden.
- An interesting period piece.
- I would have liked to see them explore the relationship more deeply.