Following on from Mrs Brown in 1997. Judi Dench reprises her role as an older Queen Victoria in the last years of her life but still infatuated with a maverick member of her household.This time one of the two servants, Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal) presented to the Empress of India. Victoria becomes fascinated by the exotic Karim who no doubt embellishes his status and stories much to the chagrin of the monarchs advisers and other members of the staff. They are not happy with this foreigner taking so much of Victoria's attentions. Abdul becomes her spiritual advisor on all things Indian.The film is based on true incidents. What is known for certain is that a lot of the papers relating to Karim were burned after Victoria's death and it highlights the prejudice of the times.Stephen Frears adds panache and humour to a slight story but it is sumptuous to look at with the costumes and set direction but it lacks the poignancy of Mrs Brown from two decades earlier.

Did Queen Victoria, head of the church of England, defender of the Christian faith, die in her sins?According to the movie Victoria and Abdul she did exactly that. In her death bed scene there is no Arch Bishop of Canterbury and no mention of Christ or Christianity. In their place is a Sufi Muslim quoting from Rumi with the implied view that Muslims are a peaceful folk and that Victoria died a Muslim with no savior.The movie could have been a good one with superb acting by Judi Dench and many light-hearted and funny scenes but it was flawed by the politically correct author, director, producers, and screen writer who want to push their anachronistic/pc views through a period piece.What a shame that these kind of movies always have to be flawed by faulty worldviews that seem to be always anti-Christian and anti-Western.

Absolutely loved this film! Dame Judi Dench lovingly portrayed Queen Victoria as an emotionally conflicted monarch.

2/4/18. What a beautiful and true story of a very unlikely friendship that crosses many cultural borders at the time. Of course, today, this would be just as unlikely as it was then, but it is a true wonder that this story was ever told at all. Does not paint a good picture of Queen Victoria's children who mistreated the aging queen with such disrespect and Abdul with such racist disdain. The true story of what Victoria's children did, expunge any trace of the friendship Victoria had with Abdul, is a cautionary tale of how adult children should not treat their aging parents. It's called parental abuse. Today such a friendship would be fodder for the tabloids, but at least it would have been told. Well done and worth seeing.