The Girl King

2015 1h 46m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 184

DramaHistoryRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A portrait of the brilliant, extravagant Kristina of Sweden, queen from age six, who fights the conservative forces that are against her ideas to modernize Sweden and who have no tolerance for her awakening sexuality.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Malin Buska
Kristina
Sarah Gadon
Countess Ebba Sparre
Michael Nyqvist
Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna
Lucas Bryant
Count Johan Oxenstierna
Laura Birn
Countess Erika Erksein
Hippolyte Girardot
Ambassador Pierre Hector Chanut
Peter Lohmeyer
Bishop of Stockholm
François Arnaud
Karl Gustav Kasimir

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mika Kaurismäki
Writers: Michel Marc Bouchard
Languages: German, French, English
Countries: Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 11 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, French, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 5 countries: Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Mika Kaurismäki, shot by Guy Dufaux. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Anssi Tikanmäki. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Hans Funck shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Malin Buska and Sarah Gadon and Michael Nyqvist carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1254322 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mika Kaurismäki directs. Guy Dufaux behind the camera. Anssi Tikanmäki scores. Hans Funck cuts. Produced in Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden. Dialogue in German, French, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 11 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, French, English.
3International production across 5 countries: Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden.
4Directed by Mika Kaurismäki, shot by Guy Dufaux. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Anssi Tikanmäki. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Hans Funck shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Malin Buska and Sarah Gadon and Michael Nyqvist carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt1254322 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 15 themes, including "marriage proposal", "strong woman", "queen", "sweden".

The technical file

Cinematography: Guy Dufaux
Original score: Anssi Tikanmäki
Editing: Hans Funck
Production design: Petri Neuvonen
Costume design: Marjatta Nissinen
Makeup / hair: Marjut Samulin
VFX supervisor: Jon Campfens
Sound: Isabelle Lussier
Runtime: 106 min · 1h 46m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): 12
IMDB: The Girl King (2015)

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Mika Kaurismäki

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Reno2017-08-10
★ 6/10
Caught between the national duty and a personal affair. A biographical film set in the 17th century about the queen of Sweden. If a film was made based on the real means it has to be something very important thing to tell us like about the person or the historical events surrounding that person. It is a good film to learn the history of that part of the world if you do not belong there, and even for the natives with less knowledge about it. Multi- nationally produced film with a decent cast and production in the English language despite a Scandinavian tale. Besides, it is also a lesbian theme and one of the oldest real account I have seen in a film. Even today, not the whole world accepts it with the open arm. So on that perspective, I was curious about the film. Not to know how the film was made, but how they are, the real people dealt with such sexual concept in those days. Particularly, how the people around reacted to it. On that topic, the narration was not explicit. That means watching it expecting one of the best among its kind is a disappointment. But the film offers more from other angles of importance. After her father's death, the young Kristina was trained all her childhood to be the next ruler of the Sweden. When she came of age to take the crown, her aim is to mark the presence of Sweden all over the Europe. She's a fine sword woman, but also very interested in philosophy and art. But she has never been so confused as one day when she felt something for a woman in her court. She begins to learn more about it from an expert and on the other side, her duty to the nation and its people seems not getting better. How the fate of Sweden and her personal life collides covered in the remaining parts. ❝I know how to set a bear trap, how to clean a musket, but I don't know how to place my lips on yours.❞ The film was not received well. Critically failed, but it was not that bad if you ask me. Yes, it was boring in parts, due to lack of progression. There's lots of things happened in the story, yet seems was not enough to impress its viewers. Especially switching between national duty and personal affairs strongly collides. Thus leaving both the subjects behind half baked. The real events took place for decades was put into a hundred minutes film did not justify. It's particularly about picking the right story segment to add in the screenplay and the some of the parts looked fine, but not the overall film. On the other hand, some people might find it a propaganda. Protestants, Roman Catholic, I don't know which way it leans, but started with one way and ended with another. So it could be the end that counts. On the humanitarian ground, morally, all looked fine to me. So if that's what made this film to become prey, then it's a totally wrongly judged. Otherwise the film is acceptable for being a biopic, telling the truth. Of all the kings and queen of the world we learnt about, Kristina is different and one should know about her for that. I feel she was very modern and modern in the wrong century. Born in the royal family, had all the power, it's very sad how her fate has changed at the end. But that's not the end of her tale. There's more to reveal, though this film covered only that takes place in the Sweden and being the ruler. I'll be happy if a sequel was made to tell her latter life and self-discovery. I'm sure it would be more a philosophical, but some people might raise the voice propaganda. Since this flick did not do well, that's not going to happen, I guess. One of the reasons I wanted to watch it was Sarah Gadon. She was in one of the main roles, but had a less preference. The other actress was really good and she was almost in every frame of the film. It might not be the best film to represent the LGBT, but it had its share and definitely a decent film from all the other angles. Should have been better, that's what those who saw it would say and so am I. Once watchable, but it does not have quality to I say the word, recommended! 6/10

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