Saw the movie ‘The King’s Speech.’ Colin Firth plays magnificently the speech impaired prince-turned-wartime-King George VI, with Geoffrey Rush as his antipodean speech therapist and Guy Pearce, the controversial older brother who as King Edward VIII abdicates to give the throne to his brother.
At one level, this is a movie of personal triumph over adversity, as George VI learns to come to terms with his disability. At another level, it is the story of near impossible relationships between aristocrats at their highest level (kings and princes) and mere ‘commoners.’ King Edward needs to decide whether his duty as King overrides his love for a divorced, non-aristocratic woman whom he is not allowed to marry. King George needs to decide whether he can accept the friendship of an overly familiar colonial teacher, who insists on calling the King by his family name, ‘Bertie,’ and challenges all of the formality that cloaks the life of a royal. This movie demonstrates that history is full of magnificent, little known stories for which we are richer by becoming familiar with them. It should scoop the upcoming movie awards if there is any justice. 9/10
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