The attempt to make an intimate, multi-stranded story out of this royal episode is appreciated, especially given its subplots which effectively compare with Kristina's own struggle between independence and duty, but the gripping central performances lack a proper foundation.
The Girl King
Finland, Germany, Canada · 2015
1h 46m
Director Mika Kaurismäki
Starring Malin Buska, Sarah Gadon, Michael Nyqvist, Lucas Bryant
Genre Drama, History, Romance
Add to Watchlist
Please login to add films to your watchlist.
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.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) by Brad Wheeler
Malin Buska – the Swedish Kirsten Dunst? – is highly watchable as the Descartes-loving ruler, but Canada’s Sarah Gadon as the sheet-warming lady-in-waiting is given little to do but look naive and dumbstruck.
It’s hectic, unsubtle, borderline cartoonish.
Los Angeles Times by Katie Walsh
The greatest appeal of The Girl King lies in the fascinating historical character and the formidable actress portraying her.
The Guardian by Peter Bradshaw
This plumply preposterous film from director Mika Kaurismäki (brother of Aki) is an unconvincing and solemn account of the controversially mannish Queen Kristina and her secret sapphic yearnings in 17th-century Sweden.
The Hollywood Reporter by Stephen Dalton
Reclaiming Kristina as an icon of queer liberation and female empowerment is a worthwhile premise, but sadly the finished film is a stodgy multinational pudding that fails to give this concept wings.
Time Out London by Tom Huddleston
This is bland, shallow and totally unconvincing, veering between cartoonish overstatement and outright tedium.
Users who liked this film also liked
Babette's Feast
(Babettes gæstebud)
A French housekeeper with a mysterious past cooks an exquisite meal for a circle of pious, stoic villagers.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Denmark • 1987
- Director Gabriel Axel
- Cast Stéphane Audran, Bodil Kjer, Birgitte Federspiel, Jarl Kulle, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Bibi Andersson
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Amazon Video
Inuyasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass
(犬夜叉 鏡の中の夢幻城)
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 2002
- Director Toshiya Shinohara
- Cast Kappei Yamaguchi, Satsuki Yukino, Koji Tsujitani, Houko Kuwashima, Kumiko Watanabe, Toshiyuki Morikawa
- Genre Action, Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Tubi TV, Hoopla
Il ragazzo di campagna
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy • 1984
- Director Castellano, Pipolo
- Cast Renato Pozzetto, Massimo Boldi, Donna Osterbuhr, Clara Colosimo, Sandra Ambrosini, Renato D'Amore
- Genre Comedy
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Oslo, August 31st
(Oslo, 31. august)
As he finishes his drug rehabilitation program, Anders wrestles with the past, and the possibility of a new life.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Norway • 2011
- Director Joachim Trier
- Cast Anders Danielsen Lie, Hans Olav Brenner, Ingrid Olava, Tone Beate Mostraum, Malin Crépin, Øystein Røger
- Genre Drama
- Available on Strand Releasing Amazon Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Young and Wild
(Joven y alocada)
God loves ME.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Chile • 2012
- Director Marialy Rivas
- Cast Alicia Rodríguez, María Gracia Omegna, Felipe Pinto, Ingrid Isensee, Aline Küppenheim, Alejandro Goic
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on AMC+, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Kanopy
Farewell, My Queen
(Les adieux à la reine)
In France, the Queen’s life of extraordinary luxury begins to collapse as the monarchy teeters on the edge of disaster.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Spain • 2012
- Director Benoît Jacquot
- Cast Léa Seydoux, Diane Kruger, Virginie Ledoyen, Xavier Beauvois, Noémie Lvovsky, Julie-Marie Parmentier
- Genre Drama, History
- Available on Cohen Media Amazon Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Tubi TV, Kanopy
It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, But the Society in Which He Lives
(Nicht der Homosexuelle ist pervers, sondern die Situation, in der er lebt)
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany • 1971
- Director Rosa von Praunheim
- Cast Berryt Bohlen, Bernd Feuerhelm, Ernst Kuchling, Norbert Losch, Steven Adamczewski, Dietmar Kracht
- Genre Drama, Documentary, History
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Reaching for the Moon
(Flores Raras)
Two iconic women. One passion.
- ✭ ✭
- Brazil • 2013
- Director Bruno Barreto
- Cast Miranda Otto, Glória Pires, Tracy Middendorf, Treat Williams, Marcello Airoldi, Lola Kirke
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, The Roku Channel, Kanopy
Beloved Sisters
(Die geliebten Schwestern)
The secret story of Schiller's passion.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland • 2014
- Director Dominik Graf
- Cast Florian Stetter, Henriette Confurius, Hannah Herzsprung, Ronald Zehrfeld, Andreas Pietschmann
- Genre Drama, History, Romance
- Available on Fandor Amazon Channel, OVID, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, VUDU Free, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
Moomins on the Riviera
(Muumit Rivieralla)
The Moomins travel to the French Riviera, where their unity is put to the test.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Finland, France • 2014
- Director Xavier Picard, Hanna Hemilä
- Cast Kris Gummerus, Maria Sid, Mats Långbacka, Alma Pöysti, Ragni Grönblom, Carl-Kristian Rundman
- Genre Animation, Comedy, Family
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Pure Life
(La vie pure)
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, France, Brazil • 2014
- Director Jeremy Banster
- Cast Daniel Duval, Elli Medeiros, Jeremy Banster
- Genre Adventure, Documentary, Drama
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Baby Bump
Growing up… not for kids.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Poland • 2015
- Director Kuba Czekaj
- Cast Kacper Olszewski, Agnieszka Podsiadlik, Caryl Swift, Sebastian Łach, Weronika Wachowska, Andrzej Szeremeta
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Fandor, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Kanopy
Neurotic Quest for Serenity
(TOC: Transtornada Obsessiva Compulsiva)
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Brazil • 2017
- Director Paulinho Caruso, Teo Poppovick
- Cast Tatá Werneck, Bruno Gagliasso, Vera Holtz, Daniel Furlan, Luís Lobianco, Ingrid Guimarães
- Genre Comedy
- Available on Amazon Video
Ana e Vitória
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Brazil • 2018
- Director Matheus Souza
- Cast Ana Caetano, Vitória Falcão, Clarissa Müller, Thati Lopes, Bruce Gomlevsky, Érika Mader
- Genre Romance, Comedy, Music
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Isabelle
- ✭
- Canada, United States • 2019
- Director Rob Heydon
- Cast Amanda Crew, Adam Brody, Zoë Belkin, Sheila McCarthy, Booth Savage, Michael Miranda
- Genre Horror
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, VUDU Free, Hoopla