How long do we consider our limitations to be flaws rather than a challenge to overcome? This is exactly what the film The King’s Speech (2010) directed by Tom Hooper addresses. The film received four Academy Awards including Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role by Colin Firth, Best Achievement in Directing by Tom Hooper, and Best Writing, Original Screenplay by David Seidler. It was also nominated for eight additional Academy Awards.
The film depicts a remarkable bond between an ordinary man and a member of the royal family. Set in England (1925), the film begins with Prince Albert (called as Bertie), Duke of York (later King George VI) (Colin Firth), the second son of King George V, speaking at the finale of the 1925 British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Stadium with his wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) by his side. With the series of events happening in the initial scenes we learn that he suffers from a severe stammer.
It bothers him and he even refrains from telling his daughters Elizabeth (who we all know grew up to become Queen Elizabeth II of today) and Margaret bedtime stories.
After being treated by various therapists, the Duke takes a risk on Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), an Australian-born amateur actor and self-taught speech therapist with no qualifications other than his own track record. Logue always wanted to be an actor but he couldn’t.
When they have their first encounter, Longue bets on Bertie’s ability to read and offers him Shakespeare’s Hamlet “To be, or not to be” soliloquy to read aloud, with music blasting so he can’t hear himself. After Logue records his reading on a gramophone, Bertie assumes that his situation can’t be changed and he thought that he has stammered throughout. Later, Bertie plays Logue’s recording and hears himself reciting Shakespeare fluently.
Bertie returns to Logue’s treatment, where they find solution to his problems. Logue examines the psychological origins of the stammer as Bertie acknowledges some of his childhood pressures. Logue promises to help Bertie throughout and the encounter between the two brings a sense of happiness which makes the film interesting to watch.
Bertie finds his own voice at the end of the film. The duo develops a unique friendship as the story progress. Thus, Bertie was able to lead the country through war time using his speeches.
When it comes to screenplay, the actors have done a tremendous work in giving life to the historical events. The colour scheme used in the film equally shows the class differences in the film. Songs used have its own importance to the situations that it is being used.
Director was clearly able to make the story interesting as he was able to grab the attention of the spectators till the end of the film. It never seemed to me to be as boring as a historical picture might be at times. The King’s Speech is one of the films that I would definitely recommend everyone to watch.
Image Courtesy Official Facebook page of The King’s Speech
