An Oscar-winning movie filmed at Hatfield House will be screened at the stately home as part of this summer’s open-air cinema season.
The Favourite is one of this year’s The Luna Cinema 2019 offerings at the Hertfordshire estate in August.
Yorgos Lanthimos’ acerbic period comedy drama was largely shot on location at Hatfield House in the spring of 2017.
• READ MORE: Behind the scenes of filming The Favourite at Hatfield House
Starring Academy Award winner Olivia Colman as Queen Anne, The Favourite (15) can be seen on the big outdoor screen in Hatfield Park on Thursday, August 22 – just yards from where the movie was filmed.
As well as the award-winning Colman, who won an Oscar, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for her performance in the bawdy royal romp, the movie also stars Oscar nominees Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone.
• READ MORE: The true story behind the Duchess of Marlborough, the Queen and the ‘Dirty Parlour Maid’
Hatfield House and its gardens figure prominently in the film, with the Oscar-nominated cinematography capturing rooms such as the Long Gallery and Marble Hall in all their glory.
The movie is set in early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving.
A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend, and clandestine lover, Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper.
When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah.
Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough, takes her cousin under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots.
As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion, her ‘favourite’.
Their burgeoning friendship gives ambitious Abigail a chance to fulfil her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way.
Doors for the screening will open at 6.45pm with the movie starting at 8.15pm.
An exclusive 48-hour pre-sale for Luna Cinema newsletter subscribers opened today (Wednesday).
Tickets will go on general sale at 10am on Friday, March 8.
• For more, visit https://thelunacinema.com/
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