Film Reviews / Jun. 28, 2021
The Girl King is adapted from the life and story of one of Sweden's greatest female rulers, Kristina. who succeeded the Scandinavian kingdom from her father, King Gustav II Adolf when she was as little as six years old. Having been raised like a boy, not only did Kristina master the art of fencing at a young age, but she also displayed a keen interest in the fields of humanities and the arts. Kristina was particularly seen to be drawn into the philosophy of René Descartes and during her reign as Sweden's ruler, she strongly advocated for a declaration of peace and was considered as an exceptionally progressive woman during the 17th century.
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Queen Kristina first crosses paths with the elegant and graceful Ebba at an event at the royal household and is left confused upon not being able to figure out the reason behind her instant attraction to Ebba ever since she laid her eyes on the divine beauty. Thus, in an attempt to find the answer to her questions, Kristina pays a visit to the great philosopher, René Descartes. Upon hearing of Kirstina's situation, Descartes, then. unravels Kristina’s confusion and prompts her to follow her heart. With this, Kristina bravely conveys her emotions to Emma and goes on to name her as her most cherished attendant.
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Kristina and Ebba’s love in the film is ineffable. Be it the flirtatious gestures at the start, or the indulgent sexual exchanges afterward, every intimate scene between the two protagonists is all too memorable. Malin Buska, who plays the role of Kristina in the film has shown a domineering performance when it comes to love. You can see this from how Ebba completely succumbs to her desire through the course of the film.
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However, Kristina’s female identity makes her an easy target in the eyes of the conservative forces at play in her kingdom. Despite the immense pressure surrounding her, Kristina persists in being who she is and never gives in to the steady demands of arranged marriages. The Girl King, ultimately, leads its audience into the journey of the Swedish girl king Kristina and the loving whispers of her and her lesbian lover, Ebba.
Official Synopsis:
The Girl King paints 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. An enigmatic young woman in conflict-torn between reason and passion; between her woman's body and being raised as a prince; between the ancient and modern worlds and between the brilliance of her educated mind and the conservative forces around her. Crowned Queen at the age of six, Kristina of Sweden was thrust into a labyrinth of power and tradition, where a court of austere, Lutheran men pressure her to marry and produce an heir to fulfill her destiny. She finds sanctuary and love with her lady-in-waiting, the beautiful and elegant, countess Ebba Sparre, although the Chancellor, Axel Oxenstierna, pressures her to pair with his son, Johan. Soon the forces around the Queen realize that Ebba is the key to controlling her, but they underestimate Kristina's brilliant mind and her drive to be free.
