The popular monarch, Queen Christina of Sweden, must choose between love and loyalty to her nation when she unexpectedly falls for a Spanish envoy.

We know the head of state we’ll be celebrating on January 20th, 2025.

Join us at the Paradise to forget about everything that happened that day (it seems highly poised to be a bad one!) and instead bask in the glory of two true royals, Queen Christina of Sweden and Greta Garbo, as they come together as one in this incredibly queer pre-code movie from 1933!

The film stars a 27 year old Garbo as the titular 17th century queen, a woman whose unconventional life has been scrutinized and represented from her own time to today. Her sexuality and gender have now for nearly 400 years (she was born 398 years ago this week!) been the subject of conjecture. And Garbo (a queer legend of history in her own right) leans into this in her fiery portrayal of her.

The screening will coincide with the premiere of Le Reine-garçon, a new opera based on Queen Christina’s life from Julien Bilodeau and Michel Marc Bouchard that will be running from January 31 to February 15 at Canadian Opera. We’ll be joined onstage at the screening by musicologist Jane Forner, who will offer some insight into the film, the opera and the history behind both! -PETER KNEGT

Doors Open 30 Minutes Before Showtime.