The Great had me under its spell immediately, the cheeky footnote to the title promising an “occasionally true story”. It’s a playful comedic satire of power, gender roles and royalty set in 18th century Russia, from Tony Mcnamara the co-writer of Oscar-winning The Favourite and reminded me in equal parts of The Personal History of David Copperfield and Channel 4’s rip-roaring The Windsors. Which is certainly no bad thing.
Nicholas Hoult embodies the young Emperor Peter III, who has found the right kind of woman to marry. She’s from a French aristocratic pedigree but her family is out of favour, languishing in financial dire straits. Elle Fanning is Catherine, who looks beautiful, which is really all an Empress needs to be, but she’s intelligent and cultured too, keen to be a good wife and to share in the ruling of Russia.
Catherine has barely set foot in the palace before she meets Adam Godley reveling in his role as the revolting ArchBishop. In a shocking scene, he accompanies her into her bedroom and licks his fingers as he talks about checking her “interior wall”. With the comforts of a gilded palace life comes a number of dreadful indginities, as Catherine is about to find out. Oh and by the way, the wedding is at 7pm sharp.
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