The Favourite
dir. Yorgos Lanthimos · 2018
Plot
Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne's ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen's companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfill her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way.
Why watch
"The Favourite" is a wickedly humorous exploration of power and manipulation within the confines of a royal court, where ambition knows no bounds and friendships are as fragile as the throne itself. With its darkly comedic tone and striking visual style, this film invites viewers to revel in the absurdity of human desires and the lengths one will go to seize power.