The Favourite

The Favourite is a 2018 period black comedy film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara. A co-production between Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the film stars Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz. Set in early 18th century Great Britain, it examines the relationship between cousins Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough and Abigail Hill as they vie to be court favourite of Queen Anne. Principal photography took place at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire and at Hampton Court Palace, lasting from March to May 2017. The film premiered on 30 August 2018 at the 75th Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for Colman. It was released theatrically in North America on 23 November 2018 by Fox Searchlight Pictures, and in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 1 January 2019. The film was a box office success, grossing $95 million worldwide on a $15 million budget. The Favourite received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise drawn to Lanthimos's direction, the screenplay and performances of the lead cast, and it won or was nominated for numerous awards, including ten Academy Award nominations, tying Roma for the most nominations of any film at that year's ceremony. It won ten British Independent Film Awards, seven BAFTA Awards, and eight European Film Awards, and Colman won Best Actress at each of those ceremonies, as well as the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and others. The American Film Institute named The Favourite one of the top ten films of 2018 and since its release, it has been assessed as one of the best films of the 21st century.

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"I dreamt I stabbed you in the eye."

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[MUSIC CONTINUES]

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This cannot be all of it. - It is, ma'am. - Don't lean at me! Shall we request another fabric piece from your cousin in Florence?

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Perhaps it was lost or eaten by mice on the long journey. No, I just want to know that all my mail is here. ABIGAIL: Of course. Footman, go and check again. Immediately.

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Incompetent.

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"My dearest...

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Mrs. Morley... I..."

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[MUSIC ENDS]

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I am in a quandary... and you are my dearest one.

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I do not know whether to speak of it. What is it?

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- I'm not sure. - I don't like this.

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You'll lodge this unknowable thing in my brain, and it will eat me with horrible possibilities.

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ABIGAIL: It is not horrible, dear Anne.

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It is just money.

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Money?

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I have found in the books... large sums of money seem to have flowed to Marlborough, but are not reflected in the forces' receipts of expenses. What?

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It is gone.

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Shall I request it back on his return?

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Quietly, perhaps? Are you saying that Sarah diverted money to him?

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It does seem so.

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