The King's Speech

I am glad that I did not read any reviews or even know the gist of the story before watching this Oscar winning movie. Right from the first scene where the duke of York fails to deliver his maiden speech to his father, King George V’s loyal subjects as his father’s representative to the last scene when he delivers the moving speech to His people as H M king George VI, the movie is great.

Extremely well designed period settings and authentic casting of well known public figures such as Chamberlain and Churchill make the movie a treat to watch.

It is not merely the story of a Monarch who stammered and then delivered an awesome speech. It also portrasys the human side of the royal family. The deep longing that “Bertie” (King George VI) played by Colin Firth has for normal life and a friend to whom he can pour out his heart is moving. The movie is the story of a unique friendship between Lionel Logue the Aussie Speech therapist (Played by Geoffrey Rush) and King Geoge VI.

The last sub title on the screen says, “ Bertie and Lionel remained friends throughout their life.” This is the essence of the movie.

Colin Firth as the stammering King makes the suffering of a speech impairment immediate and palpable. He is a King; yet he is a normal man with a normal problem. He is supportedand sucoured by his wife ( Bonham Carter) who is “immensey likable” according to Outlook magazine film reviewer Namrata Joshi.

The death of King George V, the abdication of Edward and coronation of George VI are well known events. But the movie thoughtfully avoids cliché and pomp and sticks to an inside-out look at these events from the point of view of the players rather than the public. So we have thee King and his family watching the cortonation in black and white on screen! (A factoid I picked up from Maggie our city guide during my recent visit to London: The Kohinoor diamond was not worn on George VI on his crown during the coronation. It adorned the queen. This is because the stone is considered inauspicious on men though women may wear it with impunity!)

Each speech or event is put in the context of a human being, a family and a life. This lends an intimacy to the viewing experience anda consequent empathy with the protagonists. The arch bishop tells the king that he is worried about the head he is going toi crown. The King retorts, “but it is my head!’

This brings out another basic theme in the movie which is the continuous loss of privacy and freedom to live one’s life the way one wants to. The pressures of having to live up to the expectations of a whole nation drive a boy to become a stammerer.

“My game; my turf; my rules”— This is Lionel’s comment to Berties wife when asked to visit him at the Palace. This is his voice, Subdued, yet smooth and firm like silk. Not holding tight but never letting go. He rises above his own frustrations as a failed actor to help Bertie perform his most important role as a King. In this sense, Lionel is the epitome of the Eighth Habit which says, “Find your Own Voice and Inspire Others to Find theirs.”