78
Metascore
8 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 97The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Barry HertzThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)Barry HertzThe film is simply operating at a speed constantly one click ahead of expectations, never satisfied that any one viewer could know where it might all be heading.
- 90The New York TimesBeatrice LoayzaThe New York TimesBeatrice LoayzaMcKenzie doesn’t rely on the usual uplifting messaging and strained empowerment arc to humanize An and Star . . . Their friendship remains mysterious, yet the film, as if by witchcraft, makes their connection feel palpable and true.
- 80Paste MagazinePaste MagazineQueens of the Qing Dynasty is a unique film with a distinct voice, a brave example of queerness existing beyond sexuality at many different confluences. Though the follow-through is not as dynamic as I’d like, and the duration sometimes drags, the film takes big swings.
- 75Slant MagazineMark HansonSlant MagazineMark HansonAshley McKenzie’s film blossoms into a moving story about two people trapped by the institutions that they’re beholden to.
- 75The PlaylistMark AschThe PlaylistMark AschSarah Walker is great in an unself-conscious way, foggily conveying Star’s blinking on-off struggle to bridge the gap between her inner monologue and the outer world. She speaks in a thick voice that sounds effortful and takes in the world with watchful, silent eyes. It’s the rare performance that’s magnetic in its passivity.
- 75IndieWireJourdain SearlesIndieWireJourdain SearlesHopeful and deeply emotional, McKenzie has crafted a film that feels like a fairytale for these isolating times. It reminds us how much we need each other in order to flourish and fully know ourselves.
- 67The Film StageJared MobarakThe Film StageJared MobarakWhile Star and An fantasize and joke about wishing they could become trophy wives of old, their roads are not paved in gold. Having each other sitting shotgun, however, does make the trip a whole lot brighter.
- 60The GuardianCath ClarkeThe GuardianCath ClarkeIt’s a disorientating, unrelaxing two-hour experience, but rewarding.