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Feb 13, 2018ba_library rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Very sweet movie about Queen Victoria and her Indian footman/servant Abdul Karim (based on a true story). Starts in 1887 in Agra, India. Abdul is selected to present the Queen of England and the Empress of India with a coin for her Golden Jubilee. He is selected because he is tall, Indian and handsome, his partner Mohammed who travels with him is shorter and not as handsome, but some other tall guy fell off an elephant and was injured. The whole scenario is a sort of set-up for the ignorance of the British Empire and the diversity of the people it represented. The Queen takes a liking to Abdul and requires both of the Hindus to stay in England. The Hindus are actually Muslim Indians who have difficulty assimilating to English royal life. Grand dinner parties with the English gentry and huge households/castles and estates with large staff that do not care for the brown guys. Queen Victoria adopts Abdul as her teacher to learn more about India and to teach her Hindi (actually Urdu explains Abdul). She is enamored with him and his Indian ways much to the discomfort of her family and staff. She laments the loss of her husband and the film also mentions the loss of her friend Mr. Brown (see the good film "Mrs. Brown" about her relationship with her Scottish staff member) as she ages. Abdul seems to keep her interested in life and living. The film is not action packed, the scenery is lovely, Judi Dench is always outstanding, and Ali Fazal is excellent as Abdul. A serious look at ultimate power that might be managed, downsized, regulated, normalized/equalized(?) by loving friendship and understanding.