Recommendation: 4/5 Stars
The Cinephile’s Journey is an attempt to watch and review every film that has won The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar for Best Picture.
Plot: “The story of King George VI, his unexpected ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.” -IMDB
Review: I love countless things about the artform of cinema. My favorite thing might be its ability to take something as simple as a king’s war-time speech and build an entire world around it. If you were a British citizen listening on the radio that day, you might have never known the challenge associated with King George VI’s speech. By pulling back the curtain, cinema reveals a beautiful story of friendship and leadership..
In moments of great national turmoil, people need to hear from their leaders. We crave honesty, transparency, and reassurance. If a leader can’t do this effectively, then steering a nation or a kingdom through trying times is nearly impossible. For King George VI (Colin Firth), who suffers from a stammer that makes public speaking a harrowing challenge, this most basic leadership skill is simply out of reach.
Knowing this, we meet the other two characters who hold this film together. Queen Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) and Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). When we first meet Elizabeth and George, they have not yet ascended to the throne. With an older brother, George has no genuine hopes of wearing the crown. Knowing public speaking will always be a part of his life, the Prince and Princess pursue various speech therapists with little luck. Then the princess stumbles across Lionel, who possesses an unorthodox approach. Together, George, Elizabeth, and Lionel go about the work of training a prince for his public life.
In the sessions and conversations, we get intimate glimpses into the life of a prince and his kingdom’s expectations. We also uncover the trauma that may serve as the root cause of George’s stammer. These scenes stand out as some of the strongest in the film. They humanize the soon-to-be king in a way the public would never experience.
Outside of the therapy sessions, trouble brews as George’s brother abdicates the throne. Choosing love over service, the impossible becomes reality as George takes his seat on the throne. This unexpected turn of events, coupled with the rise of Hitler, intensifies the dread in this film. The only question left to be answered is will the newly minted king be able to rise to the moment and address his people when they need him most?
For the answer to that question, give this film a chance. I adored it when it was first released. I may love it even more now. I think it has powerful things to say about friendship, expectations, and service.
Be good to each other,
Nathan