Review by
Benjamin Poole
Directed by: Swati Bhise
Starring: Devika Bhise, Derek Jacobi, Rupert Everett, Ben Lamb, Nathaniel Parker, Jodhi May
Bit of a bait and switch by distributors Vertigo in the marketing for this
one, a benign but handsomely produced biopic of Lakshmibai, the Rani of
Jhansi and instrumental figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 who became
a symbol of resistance to the British Raj for Indian nationalists. I am
looking at the eminently frameable poster for
The Warrior Queen of Jhansi now, marvelling at its gorgeous
use of space and implicit promise of epic conflict. Central to the frame
is Lakshmibai (portrayed here and in the film by a superb
Devika Bhise), her arms configured into a Z action pose, an aloft
khanda the conduit for the heat of battle which surrounds her; steaming
bodies engaged in military violence, the dust and fire of battle. Mmmmm.
If we weren’t all under various lockdowns, on the strength of this
fabulous image (and, I’ve just noticed, imdb’s disingenuous, inverted
descriptors of ‘Action, Adventure, Drama’ on the film’s page), this would
be the sort of film I’d get the lads over for. Big screen, vat of Chilli
and a few ponces nebbishly pontificating about chanbara, etc. Turns out
that this jidaigeki would actually be more suited to a lovely, post Sunday
dinner telly watch with my dear old mum, though. Tea and sofas, what
better context to appreciate the comforting, historical contours of this
period drama directed by Swati Bhise (and co-written by Lakshmibai
herself, Devika Bhise, along with Olivia Emden)?
The kaleidoscopic mise-en-scene of primary colours and incredible fabrics
give immediate visual pleasures as we follow the fate of Lakshmibai
confronting the various hams of the British Raj. Rupert Everett is
there, as is Nathaniel Parker, both seeming to have wandered in
from some ill-considered pantomime about the Empire: ‘Good GOD, man’ they
say to each other, crumpling their stiff upper lips but never creasing
their costume department fatigues. Bhise is far more watchable, with her
intelligent beauty and instinct for character.
The problem is that the détente between Jhansi and the British Raj simply
comes across as petty for the most part, mainly due to the presence of
envoy Robert Ellis (Ben Lamb), who (understandably) moons over the
pulchritudinous and forthright queen while wrestling with his position as
emissary. Rather than the dynamic state of the nation debate you would
expect, the scenes involving this complete lemon and the fiery queen have
all the airy weight of a bitchy rom-com meet cute.
Queen Victoria is cut to a few times and she appears to be sympathetic to
the rebellion. This rings untrue, however, with actress Jodhi May’s
shrill intonations and the character’s ineffectual obstinance seem to have
more to do with the film’s straightforward feminist ideologies rather than
biographical accuracy (I mean I wasn’t there, but my understanding is that
Victoria really liked India; its language, its exoticism, its food, but
mainly the overriding fact that it was subjugated to her ‘rule’).
There are battle scenes to look forward to, but they are of the bloodless,
mundanely choreographed type - the static sort which relies on transitions
and cuts (someone swings a sword in frame/cut to med shot of someone
falling). A lovely wide angle of a distant Indian army framed against the
far horizon occurs, but the impact of this flourish is diminished when the
narrative repeats it for a different situation 20 minutes later.
Still, having said all that, the amiable, undemanding predictability of
The Warrior Queen of Jhansi, along with its fortune to be set in one of the most beautiful countries
in the world in terms of fashion and related iconography, make it a film
which is difficult to imagine anyone really taking against. Context is
all, though, with the numbing pace, delightful apparel and stark
characterisation demanding managed expectations and suitably cosy viewing
conditions. Come to think of it, when was the last time you spent some
time with your mum?
The Warrior Queen of Jhansi is on
UK Digital from December 14th.
