The Young Victoria

Overview

Within a month or so after her 18th birthday, Princess Victoria ascends to the throne on the death of her uncle, King William IV. She did not have a happy childhood, forced to live under what became known as the Kensington Rules: she was never allowed to be alone or play with other children, slept in the same room as her mother and was not permitted to walk on a staircase without someone holding her hand. Her mother's private secretary, Sir John Conroy, tried to force her to sign an agreement that would make her mother Regent until Victoria reached the age of 25. Despite the pressure and physical threats, she stood her ground and refused. As Queen, Victoria starts off well and now independent of her mother, makes her own rules. She does commit a grave error however when she rejects the new Prime Minister's request that he name her new ladies in waiting and he resigns leading to riots in the streets. She had already met the handsome Prince Albert and they eventually marry but troubles arise early on when his role in her life is called into question. The Queen finds a solution and theirs proved to be a very happy relationship.

A shot is heard in the distance and then there is a panning shot of the royal guards 

the story of the birth and background of queen elizabeth is shown on a black still frame

 a panning shot is shown of queen elizabeth reading books

 a medium shot of Elizabeth looking at dolls

while there is a medium shot of Elizabeth playing hopscotch, there is a voice over in which Elizabeth talks about her oppressed life as a princess, saying that most girls dreams have turned out to be her oppressor, she talks about how her mother makes sure that her food is tasted before she eats it and restricts her from reading popular books.

This film conforms to the codes and conventions of period dramas as it is based of the true story of queen Elizabeth, it also is very historically accurate in settings, props and location. Like most period dramas this film challenges the social norms at the time, the world thought that Elizabeth was too young to take the thrown, she on the other hand, was determined to prove them wrong.

The target audience for this film, in my opinion would be people interested in the life of royals and other historical characters and also people that are interested in films that give extremely historically accurate accounts of periods of british history.