WILL THE OSCAR GO TO STEPHEN FREARS AND THE QUEEN?

The Queen and director Stephen Frears are nominated for Academy Awards.

Stephen Frears is nominated for achievement in directing for The Queen which is also nominated for best motion picture of the year for the 79th Annual Academy Awards. The Queen encapsulates the week that Princess Diana died and how Queen Elizabeth II, mother to Diana’s former husband Prince Charles dealt with her own feelings about Diana’s death and the mourning of the British people.

Frears felt an affinity to her Madgesty, the Queen and wanted to tell her story in the context of a very public tragedy.

“Well the Queen has been in my life longer than any other person. I mean that to say my mother and father are dead. You know nobody’s been in my life as long as the Queen. So naturally you’re dealing with complex feelings.”

When making the film Frears was concerned that the British audience might reject it for its very sensitive subject matter.

“I don’t think it’s a provocative film but I can see that the fact of the film is very provocative. It’s rather an unsensational film it seems to me but I can see making it is rather sensational so people will stagger back at the thought of the film existing. And I hope will not stagger back when they see the film.”

This is Stephen Frears’ second Oscar nomination. He was nominated for The Grifters in 1991.