” HISTORICAL PRINCESS”
Starring:Â Q’Orianka Kilcher, Shaun Evans, Barry Pepper, Will Patton, and Tamzin Merchant
Directed by: Marc Forby
MPAA Rating: PG for some violence and thematic material, and for brief language, sensuality and smoking.
Genres: Drama and Romance
Running Time: 1hr 40 min
Studio: Roadside Attractions
By John Delia
Historical, romantic and enlightening the true story of Princess Kaiulani inspires while it entertains. Marc Forby who writes and first time directs this wonderful period piece provides a canvas on which he paints a fight for honor, dignity and survival. If you enjoy 19th century romance like Room With a View or Howard’s End and historical period pieces such as The Dutchess you should enjoy Princess Kaiulani.
The film centers on the life of Princess Kaiulani (Kilcher) 1875 to 1899. Taken to Victorian England as a thirteen-year-old in an attempt to avoid a harm that may come to her, over several years Kaiulani learns the ways of the upper crust including a her private school education and absentee rise to Princess. When a takeover from the United States threatens her Hawaiian kingdom, Princess Kaiulani returns to her island nation in an attempt to curtail the imperialistic overthrow of her government.
Entwined in all this is a teenage romance between Kaiulani and a young Englishman Clive Davies (Shaun Evans). Although the intimacy of the romance is not stressed, I could still feel the passion between the two young people amidst the dealing with British family standards.
What makes the film enjoyable comes with the superb acting by the main cast, a storyline that gets played out seamlessly and remarkable cinematography showing the beauty of both Hawaii and Victorian England. The characters are very real and their costumes representative of the period.
I enjoyed the performance by Kilcher as the frightened child who gets ripped from her country and has to contend with a life she did not choose. Kilcher makes her character grow to a strong willed person showing the pride and strength of the Hawaiian people. But the standout performance comes from Barry Pepper as the cunning and power driven Lorrin Thursten who helps to bring down the Hawaiian government only to fail at his own greedy goal.  The intensity at which Pepper portrays the disturbed activist should earn him acting award recognition.
Cinematography by Gabriel Beristain of locations throughout the Hawaiian Islands and within Honolulu’s ‘Iolani Palace is very exciting. Turning halfway around the world Beristain films the lush English landscapes using lenses that give the feel of Victorian times.
The film is rated PG for some violence and thematic material, and for brief language, sensuality and smoking.
FINAL ANALYSIS:Â A cool historical piece with terrific acting. (4 of 5 Palm Trees)