Seeing the winner of the 2010 Best Picture Award in 2021 has more to say about people with disabilities than the problems of ascension in the Royal Family after King George V died (stoically done by Michael Gambon).
Essentially, it’s a two-hander between stutterer extraordinaire George VI—s-s-s-superb-bly rendered by Colin Firth) and his uncredentialled Aussie “fixer” Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush in the performance of a lifetime).
Lurking in the background is the abdication for love by King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), only to put his younger b-b-b-b-rother onto the throne.
But what a time to be thrust into the royal limelight!
Hitler was causing the eruption of the Second World War. Churchill (somewhat unconvincingly portrayed by Timothy Spall—just a cigar does not a characterization make…) always lurking in the political weeds.
The true importance of this film is to demonstrate that those “different amongst us” have as much or more to contribute to the world than most of the so-called normal.
Curiously compellingly, hopefully, purposefully, when the king’s most important speech after declaration of war was spoken, the background music was from the German master, Beethoven’s seventh symphony.
Subliminal messages to us all—on the throne or not. JWR