However, for Padmé this is also a very important moment. Of course it is important plot-wise, because there needed to be a reveal of this switching that had been happening, before the final battle can take place. This is an important moment in a number of ways. Underdressed and inconspicuous, Padmé steps forward and claims her role: Is she worried for an attack and is therefore relying on her bodyguard? Or is she aware of how important this moment is and potentially scared of it? Her later words seem to confirm the former, but as soon as Bos Nass blames Sabé as Queen Amidala for the coming of the ‘mechaniks’ and Sabé has to make her case to him Padmé steps in. The question is why Padmé chose to relinquish the official role here. When they arrive at the Sacred Place those keen-eyed amongst you can see that Padmé has switched positions with Sabé, who now takes up the role of and is introduced as Queen Amidala of the Naboo. Jar Jar is another great example of a character people underestimate this way. ![]() He is an example of how even those with open eyes can stop themselves from seeing clearly through their prejudices. Qui-Gon has hardly interacted with Queen Amidala, hence why his response to the reveal at the end of the scene is so beautiful. Padmé is a young girl, a curious, opinionated and intelligent one, but a girl nonetheless in his eyes. ![]() Although I love Qui-Gon Jinn as a character, it has to be admitted that throughout The Phantom Menace he sports a bit of a superiority complex when it comes to Padmé or the Queen. Before this we have seen Qui-Gon Jinn proclaiming he and Obi-Wan cannot use their power to help her, which very much implies he doesn’t think very much of her plan. ![]() Shortly preceding this scene Queen Amidala has also accepted Jar Jar and the Gungans as part of her people and therefore also includes them when she says ‘ours’.įrom there we jump to Jar Jar discovering an empty Gungan City and him leading the others to the Sacred Place. For Queen Amidala it is always about ‘us’ and ‘ours’, partially because Queen Amidala is a public figure and works for her people, but also because as a Queen she is made up of more than one person, namely Padmé and Sabé. From this position of strength she is able to break with tradition and ask for Jar Jar’s help. Queen Amidala has her Handmaidens backing her, securing her through their presence and allowing her to continue with her plan. This moment is beautifully staged as well, with Queen Amidala and her two Handmaidens, which represent a source of confidence, ability and strength, forming a front of strength, with both Panaka and Qui-Gon Jinn standing opposite this. She has settled on a plan and is determined to see it through. ![]() At this point Padmé has morphed back into her royal personage, confronting everyone present with a steely and confident gaze. ‘I will take back what’s ours.’ is one of the first lines Padmé Amidala says in this scene. By now it’s part of the well-known trivia of the film that Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley kept switching positions, but it’s still a great moment, story-wise. It took me a few more times watching TPM before I had completely figured out who played who. When I watched The Phantom Menace for the first time I wasn’t spoiled about this and hence was genuinely surprised by it.
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