Elizabeth The Golden Age

In class we watched the second instalment of Cate Blanchett playing the role of Elizabeth; for me I think Blanchett plays the role really well yes she's Australian but her English accent is pretty spot on. Elizabeth was always marked as 'The Virgin queen' for me within portraiture Elizabeth isn't conveyed as this womanly being; to men she was a equal. Blanchetts petite framing suits this role perfectly as a juxtapose to Abbie Cornish who plays Bess is womanly and also becomes the wife of Sir Walter Rayleigh, jealousy is obviously and even turns violent from Elizabeth when she realises Bess is in face Rayleighs sight of affection.

A poster for the film from the IMBD website

The film follows in Elizabeth's reign during the time of the Spanish's efforts to make Mary Queen of Scots the new queen of England due to there dislike of Elizabeth making Catholicism not the main religion the English would follow, the Spanish Armada then try to invade this of course obviously doesn't succeed as Mary was beheaded and the Armada ended up in flames. The film also follows the Babington plot in which Elizabeth is then nearly assassinated but lucky for her the gun in which is used is only carrying gun powder so of course Elizabeth's life prevail and she carries on ruling. Quite symbolically Elizabeth is wearing white in the scene of course if she had been shot the red against the White would of flooded and been even more symbolic, the dead Virgin Queen.

The look thoughtout the film has been carefully executed and has continued from the first film, of course Elizabeth is now seen as a lot older, wigs are in full swing as we have a climpse of her dressing room and the hundreds of dresses she would of also had. A entire team of ladies in waiting also attended Elizabeth with Bess being Her favourite this is also historically correct.

In this film from the first "Elizabeth I" instalement where Elizabeth is seen with her hair down and a un-whited out face at the start of her reign clearly referencing the fact Elizabeth was extremely young in her cornination days. Age is shown due to Elizabeth referencing herself as "a old women" and even having short hair due to a hair loss (wigs)

The Spanish costuming was similar to the Elizabethan but men and women tended to wear a lot of deep colours also lace collars I've noticed in the film and from researching after were also crochet and actually called a 'Cuello' and often decorated with fancy threads such as the crochet detailing, more high maintenance having to be washed everyday as presentation meant class and was important to the Spanish.

            http://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2012/04/ruff-ing-it-and-the-politics-of-fashion.html


Maybe the most important part of the film is when England are preparing for war against the armada. Elizabeth is already looked by her people with respect by in this scene this is what makes the history books; Elizabeth 'The Virgin Queen' was not gonna be married to one man; But to her country.

The gold and white striking amongst the sea of grey amour.