The Favourite (2018) ****

As much as I hated Yorgos Lanthimos's film "The Lobster", that's how much I liked his latest feature, “The Favourite.” Based on historical events, it tells the story of Queen Anne, who ruled England from 1702-1714, and the two women who vied for her favor.

The tale begins with Lady Abigail, homeless and penniless after her alcoholic gambler of a father drove the family to ruin. With nowhere else to go, she flees to the royal residence, where her cousin, Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) is the closest friend and adviser to Queen Anne (Olivia Colman). Abigail is hired as a scullery maid, and her position in life is almost unbearable. She is completely cast out of the upper class of her birth, but the other servants won't accept her. Desperate to improve her situation, she mixes up an herbal remedy for the Queen's gouty legs. Initially punished for her impertinence, she is rewarded when the remedy works. Lady Sarah makes Abigail her personal assistant, and Abigail begins maneuvering to gain the favor of the Queen herself.

What do these two women use to gain favor and influence with the Queen? Lesbian sex. Turns out the widowed Queen embraces the love that dare not speak its name. Sarah is Anne's secret lover, but their relationship is pretty pathological. Sarah plays the role of best friend, adviser, and protector, but she actively guards the queen from outside influences in order to manipulate her power. Anne, lonely and in poor health, needs her friend, but she realizes on some level that she is being used. Olivia Colman does a brilliant job portraying this, which is why she won the Best Actress Oscar. There's one scene where Sarah and Anne attend a dance, and Sarah starts to really cut loose, dancing and flirting with the men. She's being cruel to her friend and lover, and Colman reveals Anne's hurt slowly, through subtle changes in her face. It's really impressive acting.

Once Abigail discovers Sarah's secret, she begins scheming to move up the ladder. She's a conniver, but really she has no choice. In a regimented class system, there is none so low as one who has fallen. Abigail intelligently realizes that Lady Sarah could cast her back down to the kitchens on any whim, so she does what she has to.

Once Abigail inserts herself into palace life, she finds herself in the midst of some interesting politics. The Whigs are the party of the merchant class, and eager to continue a profitable war with France. Those profits come from land taxes, so the Tories, who represent the landowners, would like to see the war end. Sarah has kept the interests of the Whigs front and center, but the disruption wrought by Abigail gives the Tories a chance to win the Queen's ear.

It's an interesting story, beautifully filmed. “The Favourite” deserved the many Oscar nominations it received, and probably should have won more. It's an artsy film, but more accessible than most. In the genre of films about gay, British monarchs, it's in the top tier.

4 stars out of 5