Princess Ka'iulani (2009)

18% of critics liked it
(38 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(847 ratings)

The incredible true story of Hawaiian princess Ka'iulani (Q'orianka Kilcher) comes to the screen in this historical drama from first time writer/director Marc Forby. The year is 1888; a rebel alliance with connections to the American government has succeeded in destabilizing Hawaii. When the fight… More The incredible true story of Hawaiian princess Ka'iulani (Q'orianka Kilcher) comes to the screen in this historical drama from first time writer/director Marc Forby. The year is 1888; a rebel alliance with connections to the American government has succeeded in destabilizing Hawaii. When the fight comes to the royal palace, 13-year-old heir to the throne Princess Ka'iulani is spirited away to Victorian England -- where her royalty holds no bearing on her social standing. As Princess Ka'iulani struggles to adapt to her new surroundings, she finds herself falling in love with handsome, rebellious young Englishman Clive Davies (Shaun Evans). Four years later, the princess receives word that the queen has been incarcerated, and the monarch has fallen. In time Princess Ka'iulani realizes that in order to save her people she must give up her romance with Clive, and travel to America in order to speak with President Grover Cleveland. Convinced that she can restore her kingdom by proving to the Americans that her people are not the savage barbarians that the press portrays them to be, the princess makes her way to the United States and wages a valiant fight against the grave injustices being inflicted upon native Hawaiians. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: Marc Forby
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: May 14, 2010 Wide
On DVD: Sep 14, 2010
Studio: Roadside Attractions

Critic Reviews

Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle
There are too many swooping violins, too many trite generalizations, too few moments that throw a light on history and turn it into art.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
As the doomed princess, Q'orianka Kilcher ... has imperially striking features but limited acting skills.
Rachel Saslow, Washington Post
An uneven film that, by trying to satisfy parents with political drama and older children with a love story, leaves both parties wanting.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
Watching Princess Kaiulani, you're not sure whether to weep for the title character or the actress playing her.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
Kilcher is lovely. But sadly, Ka'iulani is a perfunctory biopic of the sort one might encounter on television during Women's History Month.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Its story plays like a Hawaiian heritage lesson filtered through the melodramatic artifice of an old Hollywood costume drama.
Burl Burlingame, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
There's little passion, damn little fire in the belly, and what there is is wasted on a pleasant romance conjured up by the script, aimed at the My Little Pony market.
Jeffrey Chen, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
After watching Princess Ka'iulani, we can barely say we learned much about this historical figure, nor even much of the history of the time.
Elias Savada, Film Threat
Looking more like a Hallmark Movie-of-the-Week and reading like a CliffNotes summary of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in the 1890s, the $9-million historical romance Princess Kaiulani won't raise any eyebrows or ruffle feathers...
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Unfolding somewhat like Cameron's Avatar relocated back in time to planet earth, the film ironically excavates a very different homeland security, in resistance to US imperialism. And a rare woman on screen, not living through a man.
Mark Keizer, Boxoffice Magazine
Free of insight and depth, leaving us with little sense of the weight of her accomplishments.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Less biography than hagiography, and more suitable to cable TV than theatres.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
[Writer-director] Mark Forby tempts us with a little known history lesson of Hawaii but, instead, gives us a generic girl-power teen chick flick. That is not what I want to see.
Pete Hammond, Back Stage
This absolutely fascinating true story is a rich, romantic and captivating movie experience.
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
This effortlessly evocative, endlessly ennui-inducing paean to Hawaii's final princess is, ultimately, a dull, Upstairs Downstairs affair.
Jonathan Kiefer, Sacramento News & Review
Historically fanciful and dramatically doltish.
Peter Sobczynski, eFilmCritic.com
It contains the kind of stultifying, anything-to-avoid-offence approach one usually only finds in biopics of dead saints or live dictators.
Sean O'Connell, Hollywood News
The production values are exquisite, (the) attention to detail admirable.
Mark Dujsik, Mark Reviews Movies
Lacking a sense of historical and personal context.
James Verniere, Boston Herald
It's all soap-opera histrionics and historical hash, and the writing is the culprit.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

A great film telling you the history of Hawaii. This film brought to light much of what I have never known. And like the natives of America, the natives of Hawaii succumbed to greed and white rule. Ensure that you read post subtitles telling you what happen to the princess. This is… More
A great film telling you the history of Hawaii. This film brought to light much of what I have never known. And like the natives of America, the natives of Hawaii succumbed to greed and white rule. Ensure that you read post subtitles telling you what happen to the princess. This is well worth the watch on one of those alone nights when your not sure of the mood your in or what you want to watch. 4 stars
Cynthia S

Any movie that helps educate folks about the overthrow of Hawai'i is useful. The production values are good, as is the acting. But it devotes far too little time to the political and social upheavals of the times, and far too much to a love story that has questionable historical… More
Any movie that helps educate folks about the overthrow of Hawai'i is useful. The production values are good, as is the acting. But it devotes far too little time to the political and social upheavals of the times, and far too much to a love story that has questionable historical accuracy; even if it had happened that way, there's no good reason to make a movie about it. The documentary special feature tacked on is more accurate and more interesting.
moon r

historical turn that feels like a dreary lifetime special about an actually important bit of american history - the takeover of hawaii. i wanted this one to work ... but no.
Matthew R

1888, Hawaii is teetering on the brink of civil war. The tide has turned against the royal family, under the influence of a rebel party with links to the American government. Within months, the Palace is overthrown, and the royals are exiled. Among them is the beautiful Princess… More
1888, Hawaii is teetering on the brink of civil war. The tide has turned against the royal family, under the influence of a rebel party with links to the American government. Within months, the Palace is overthrown, and the royals are exiled. Among them is the beautiful Princess Ka'iulani (Q'Orianka Kilcher). Scarcely 12 years old, she is separated from her family and her homeland, and, for her own safety, is sent to a climate and a country that couldn't be more different from Hawaii, Victorian England. Coming to terms with her fate, Ka'iulani undergoes a harsh and testing education that equips her with a sense of honor, duty and pride. What's more, she falls in love with the spirited and rebellious young Englishman Clive Davies (Shaun Evans). Emerging from her childhood, and inspired by her blossoming romance, Ka'iulani realizes that she must do all that she can to bring an end to the injustices suffered by her people. She resolves to sail to America, to meet President Grover Cleveland, and to prove that she is much more than merely a "barbarian princess". Eventually, nothing comes of it; the United States forcefully annexes Hawaii (which is why many hawaiians dislike whites) and the princess dies at the young age of 23. Since watching this film, I've been pondering whether to give this a fresh or rotten; either way, Kaiulani is a dissapointing feature. The film does have a great look to it and the production values are impeccable but it plays too calmly, moves too slowly and ponders the occupation of the sovereign kingdom with a questionable impassivity. I also couldnt get comfortable with the fact that Princess Kaiulani was played by a non-Hawaiian. The Princess was in real-life hapa-haole (half white/half hawaiian), and I couldn't get over the fact that the actress who portrayed her was so obviously non- polynesian. I was also offended by the portrayal of rifle-bearing, patently aggressive military and citizenry in the opening scenes and then during the overthrow; it was a nonviolent handover. I felt the film should have focused more on the European business community conspiring against King David's efforts and stripping Hawaiian land to the Dole family. Instead the directors keep this treatment muted; and focuses more on Kaiulani's love story. Despite my dissatisfied feelings of the princess, Kilcher still tries hard to be a intriguing Kaiulani. Of Peruvian and Swiss descent, she was raised in Hawaii, was a hula dancer and a student of at the University of Hawaii. Unlike a standard starlet, she evokes some depth and sympathy in her role. A great idea of a biopic squandered, Kaiulani is a dissapointing letdown. It's a shame more help didn't come from greater passion in the filmmaking. Story: C Acting: B- Direction: C- Visuals: A- Overall: C+ **1/2 out of 4 stars