The King's Speech

I've just watched 'The King's Speech', the recent Oscar winning film starring Colin Firth as King George VI, and a whole host of other famous actors and actresses. Now I've heard off a number of people that it's a good film, but I never realised how good. This is one of those rare films that really makes me think 'wow, this is good', keeping me gripped to the TV screen and making me think and ponder long after the film has finished. I love most historical films, but this one really felt like it touched the pulse of history.

The story is about Bertie, younger son of George V, who reluctantly seeks help from a speech therapist because of his severe stammer that makes it all but impossible to speak in public. The film covers the death of George V, and the abdication of his brother Edward. What makes it all the more compelling and relevant, is that George VI's wife, one of the main characters, is the future Queen Mother, who only died a few years ago aged 101 and someone I remember well from her many public appearances broadcast on TV. The current Queen is also in the film as a young girl, 13 at the end of the film at the outbreak of the Second World War.

There's no real action in the film, it is mostly characterisation, dialogue and great atmosphere, but what it does it does really, really well. The host of famous people in it - Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Timothy Spall, Michael Gambon etc - make it all the more fun to watch.