Mary Queen of Scots recalls the story of two of the most fascinating women in history. Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan rise to the occasion as Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart in Josie Rourke’s feature film directorial debut. The film is based on the groundbreaking novel ‘Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart’ written by Dr John Guy. History has always painted Mary Stuart as fragile and weak, however, in the novel we see her as wildly powerful.
This is Rourke’s first feature film directing role, as her repertoire lies mainly in theatre productions. She was mostly interested in illustrating the circumstances Mary had to face whilst she reigned and the number of political agendas that were always challenging her. Thus, how well she went about dealing with these challenges. These agendas were especially evident in John Knox and William Cecil, played by David Tennant and Guy Pearce, who were constantly painting Mary out to be a femme fatale figure.
As well as “setting the record straight” about Mary, Rourke wanted to show the relationship between Mary and her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. Rourke stated: “I wanted to look at those years that Mary was in Scotland and the part she played in the creation of her cousin Elizabeth, this figure we recognise as one of the great queens who reigned for 45 years.” It is interesting to note that in the most tense scene of the film, the moment in which Mary and Elizabeth meet for the first time, that Rourke did not allow Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan to see each other in their full hair and makeup, making the actresses emotional
Another element that would be a crime not to mention in this film is the breathtaking costumes. What I loved about the costumes in the film is that they didn’t feel like just the usual period style dresses that you see in almost every single period drama, each piece the characters wore felt like it was meant for that particular moment in the characters lives. Academy Award winning costume designer Alexandra Byrne was to thank for that. Byrne explains in an interview for Focus Features that Elizabeth “manipulated her publicity, creating in the new Protestant nation a cult around her image that replaced the iconography of the Virgin Mary” and on the other hand, “there is kind of a journey through her (Mary’s) outfits. I used the mud, rain, and dirt as decoration on her clothes.” I believe this is why I had such a connection to this aspect of the film.
I believe Saoirse Ronan with Josie Rourke’s direction was perfect for this role; she leads the film and at only 24 years old, is an actress that should be on your radar. This is why I would recommend anyone who has an interest in period dramas to watch this film. It is a fresh take on the life of Mary Stuart who has been painted in a bad light for centuries. It also portrays how challenging it must have been for Mary Stuart and Queen Elizabeth I to rule in a world in which incapable men were trying to control them from behind the scenes. The costumes are breathtaking and there are a few comedic lines added eloquently that break up the drama.