BOUDICA: QUEEN OF WAR (2023)

 

PHENOMENALITY: *uncanny*
MYTHICITY: *poor*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *drama*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *psychological,sociological*

Given that Olga Kurylenko had garnered some fame for playing action-roles in films like MAX PAYNE and QUANTUM OF SOLACE, I'm surprised she didn't prove a good fit for this role. Here she essays the part of Boudica, a Celtic warrior queen of the first century CE, who battled the forces of the occupying Romans.

True, many of the failings of BOUDICA stem from its pedestrian, unimaginative script and its low budget (just a little over $53K USD). In this very fictionalized account of the historical personage, Boudica is the wife of a local king of the Iceni tribe, and the king's priority is to placate the Roman forces by being helpful and agreeable. Despite having had "barbarian" ancestors, Boudica is the very picture of a contented first-century housewife, entirely preoccupied with her two daughters and her husband. She has no interest in politics, though she experiences a weird moment when the barbarians of a neighboring tribe genuflect before her, acting as if Boudica is some sort of exalted presence.

But a villainous Roman counsel finds an excuse to murder Boudica's husband, while Roman laws, instituted by Emperor Nero, forbid women from holding queenship. (Yes, of course the worst thing about Roman rule was their marginalization of women.) Boudica's children are slain and she's whipped prior to being sold as a slave. However, some of those worshipful barbarians rescue her from her captors, and in no time Boudica finds herself elevated to the position of rebel queen. In addition, she imagines that her daughters are still alive, giving her advice-- though to her fellow Celts, this is merely another indicator of Boudica's special destiny. 

Another failing is that, aside from the villainous Roman, there are no interesting supporting characters. There's a chieftain who pushes back a little against being led by a woman, and he defies her by breaking her bronze sword and casting it into a lake. But he bows his head after Boudica fishes the blade out, and suddenly it's not only whole, it's as strong as any iron sword. A couple of times it even leaps to her hand when called. There's a brief mention that the blade was forged by druids, but aside from providing the film's only metaphenomenal content, the sword doesn't affect Boudica's anti-Roman campaign. She does get to exterminate the rotter who killed her husband, but eventually the Romans bring her and her rebellion down, though not quite the way history records the event. Frankly, this roadshow BRAVEHEART is a downer all the way.

But the biggest problem is Kurylenko. After portraying Boudica for almost half an hour as a mild-mannered housewife, the actress wasn't able to transition to Boudica, Warrior Queen. The battle-scenes are all right for the budget involved, but Kurylenko proves bland at best, unable to handle any of the more turbulent emotional states. The only praise I can muster is that the actress kept herself in good enough condition that I wasn't conscious of her being in her middle forties.