Films by season & age - Long To Reign Over Us (Ages 12-15)

Seasons are a great way to explore different ideas through watching a group of films. Why not try watching all the films in a season and make some time for discussion. Topics and discussion points are included.

One of the most acclaimed and popular British films of recent years has been The Queen. An intimate portrait of Queen Elizabeth set at the time of the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997, the movie offered a glimpse of the responsibilities and dilemmas that come with monarchy, with a stunning performance from the film’s star Helen Mirren. And yet for all its excellence, The Queen was not the first great movie about royalty to delight film fans. In fact, there have been several unforgettable cinematic kings, queens and other royals down the years – figures as diverse as 18th century France’s Marie-Antoniette, the infamous King Richard III, and the ancient Chinese emperor Ying Zheng. But all of them have shared a place in their country’s royal families – and all have later become the subject of powerful, thought-provoking movies.

SUGGESTED PAIR

The Queen and Elizabeth - The Golden Age portray two strong women who have occupied the British throne at different moments in history. The Lion in Winter and Richard III concern a pair of English kings (the former being about Henry II) – but two very different monarchs, portrayed in very different styles.

TALKING POINTS

Do you feel sorry for members of the royal family, given the responsibilities they often bear? Or do you think the privileges they enjoy are more than enough to compensate? Do the films in this season make you feel more supportive of the idea of having a king or queen, or less so?