Irish Film Institute -International Film Directory – Film Listing

The Favourite

    • Director

      Yorgos Lanthimos

    • Credits

      Producers:
      Ed Guiney
      Ceci Dempsey
      Yorgos Lanthimos

      Writers:
      Deborah Davis
      Tony McNamara

      Cinematography:
      Robbie Ryan

      Costume Design:
      Sandy Powell

    • Principal Cast

      Olivia Coleman
      Rachel Weisz
      Emma Stone
      Nicholas Hoult
      Mark Gatiss

  • Category

    Feature

Two rivals vie for the affections of Queen Anne in Yorgos Lanthimos’s deliciously caustic black comedy. Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz), the Duchess of Marlborough, has long been the trusted companion of the insecure, jealous and physically ailing monarch (Olivia Colman), a position which allows her to manipulate affairs of state to her own ends. Enter Abigail (Emma Stone), Sarah’s winsome younger cousin, who has fallen on hard times. Put to work as a scullery maid, the outwardly naive girl soon learns that Sarah’s friendship with the queen is of an intimate nature, information which proves decisive as she leverages her position at court, much to the chagrin of the vengeful Churchill.

Notes by David O'Mahony

119 minutes, Ireland-UK-USA, 2018, Colour


The IFI is supported
by The Arts Council

Arts Council of Ireland