Talking about British politics, I warmly recommend those of you who missed the programm, to watch the documentary on Queen Elisabeth II which was on Arte recently. If you’re interested, you can still watch it on the web until February, 8th. That means TODAY !!! Just click here:

http://videos.arte.tv/fr/videos/ballade_pour_une_reine-6357574.html

In this irreverential documentary, Don Kent seizes the opportunity of the Queen’s diamond Jubilee to look back on her 60-year-long reign, questionning the changes and evolution of British society during that period of time. The interviews of philosopher Alain de Botton, cartoonist Glenn Baxter and writer Hanif Kureishi among others, bring an interesting light on the Queen and the Royal family and how they are viewed by their subjects. Past and modern History are melt in the public figure of the Queen who has known every Prime Minister from Winston Churchill to David Cameron. The highlight of the film however is to watch a young 21-year-old princess making the following statement « I declare before you all, that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and to the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. » Hearing those words now makes you wonder how much of the future she had foreseen back then and how she would consider the iconic woman she became…

As it’s her Jubilee, there’s no doubt we’ll hear more about the Queen this summer. Meanwhile, for those of you who want to discover the Queen in an unconventional way, I suggest you watch Stephen Frears’s beautiful film The Queen or read Sue Townsend’s hilarious novel The Queen and I – and you’ll see what happens when the royal family are fired and forced to live on welfare in a council house… Have fun!

Violaine Azema.

If you miss this tv program, there will undoubtedly be others on other channels ! We'll keep you informed.