The Favourite

In the lush, oppressive world of 18th-century British royalty, politics, and power struggles, The Favourite brings to life the intricate dynamics between Queen Anne and those surrounding her, particularly the women in her inner circle. At its center is a tale of desire, loyalty, and deceit as the bonds between Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill are put to the test by the arrival of Sarah's cousin, Abigail Hill, setting off a series of events that culminate in a bitter rivalry between the two women for the coveted title of Queen's Favourite. The film opens with Queen Anne, portrayed by Olivia Colman, struggling to cope with the loss of a child, her beloved 11 babies born to her, having all tragically died in infancy. Amidst the sorrow and loneliness, her relationship with her trusted advisor and close friend, Sarah Churchill, played by Rachel Weisz, serves as an anchor for both women. Sarah has risen through the ranks to become one of the most influential and powerful women at court, not only by virtue of her intellect and wit but also due to her close ties with the Queen. However, Sarah's position begins to show signs of strain as her cousin, Abigail Hill, played by Emma Stone, emerges on the scene. Abigail seeks to escape her impoverished circumstances and throw her lot in with those of the aristocratic class. With her beauty, charm, and ability, she quickly gains the attention of the royal household and, in particular, catches the eye of Robert Harley, the Duke of Portland and the King's adviser at the time. Abigail's rise at court gains momentum as she catches the eye of the Lord Halifax and begins to provide her services as a lady's maid to Sarah. As Abigail embarks on her trajectory towards the center of power, she leverages her intelligence and guile to establish strong connections with numerous members of the royal household, capitalizing on her good fortune, kind disposition, and ability to gain Sarah's trust, quickly escalating her status at court. As Abigail advances, she simultaneously plots a transfer to the Lady in Waiting quarters to be directly in attendance on the Queen herself. Throughout the film, Abigail manipulates those around her with seeming ruthlessness, her intellect not only serving her morally but playing on the motivations of others. Behind it all, she expertly aims to gain Sarah's trust and position herself favorably with the Queen in preparation for a possible switch to become the new confidante. A muddled sequence of events unfolds as, even amidst her careful machinations, Abigail begins to develop genuine feelings for the Queen, bringing emotions into a calculus previously fueled by a purely analytical desire to gain power. Conversely, her motivations are also drawn from empathy as, in witnessing the isolation of the Queen and her vulnerability to Sarah's machinations, Abigail acts with intelligence, recognizing the fragility of her position at court and playing the long game as necessary to solidify her circumstances. Sarah, bound in possession by her love and camaraderie for the Queen, ultimately provokes a critical crossroads. When pressed by the Queen to provide companionship, or possibly just distraction from the acute emotional pain, Sarah finds herself thwarting Abigail's rise to prominence. Resenting her growing affinity with the Queen, Sarah sees her own deep connection as threatened, even being asked to leave the Queen. As Abigail seizes the opportunity and ultimately takes Abigail's place alongside Queen Anne, Sarah's demise serves to catapult Abigail into unshakeable power amongst the royal circle.