Simmering with tension, director Thomas Imbach’s MARY Queen of Scots explores the ill-fated queen’s dependency on her cousin, Elizabeth I, for identity, security, and ultimately, for mercy. A remarkable performance by french actress and relative newcomer Camille Rutherford brings life and insight to this exceptional look at one of history’s powerful and misunderstood queens.

When is a queen not a queen? When three crowns, three husbands, and an army cannot save her, as shown in the simmering historical drama MARY Queen of Scots.

Directed by Swiss filmmaker Thomas Imbach, MARY Queen of Scots explores the ill-fated life of Mary Stuart (Newcomer Camille Rutherford), the brief queen of Scotland, England, and France. As politics and romance shift her ever-changing kingdoms, Mary grows increasingly reliant on the kindredness of her more infamous cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.

The narrative moves fast (sometimes too fast to follow), but the broad stroke events come secondary to the growing anticipation of a meeting between the two monarchs. It is Elizabeth, not Mary, that the movie truly revolves around. Always present in portraits, conversations, and letters read by voiceover from Mary herself, the shadow of Elizabeth looms large, constantly shaping Mary’s actions. The longer Elizabeth delays meeting her cousin, the more her power on Mary – and the audience – grows.

Rutherford is admirable in the role, skillfully tapping into Mary’s burgeoning identity in both English and French. At times, she seems still a child, scared and unsure of the great power thrust upon her. Yet when cornered, Rutherford brings all the authority of a true queen, commanding the screen with the same panache as she does her subjects.

Highly recommended.

Nimy Leshinski

Shown at this year’s TIFF13 : Toronto International Film Festival.