SLIFF 2022 | MOVIE REVIEW: "The Lost King" And The Phenomenal King Finder
8/12 ForReel Score | 3.5/5 Stars
Directed by: Stephen Frears
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Steve Coogan, Harry Lloyd, Mark Addy, Lee Ingleby, James Fleet
In 2012, the remains of King Richard III were discovered after disappearing more than 500 years ago. Approximately ten years later, audiences are treated to a film adaptation of this story with The Lost King, focusing primarily on the amateur historian who spearheaded the research effort. Philippa Langley’s story is unlike any other and has since been fairly unheard of. Her due credit and respect had not been properly acknowledged with Leicester University - for lack of a better word - buried her involvement in Richard's discovery. Director Stephen Frears (Dirty Pretty Things) and co-writers Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope (Philomena) brought Philippa onto the project as an executive producer to ensure the authenticity of the film and showcase her efforts.
Philippa, played in this film by Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water), is on a David and Goliath sized quest. She suffers from M.E., a chronic fatigue syndrome which hinders her performance at work. After watching a performance of Shakespeare's play Richard III, she feels a deep connection with him as he is marginalized for his ailments as well. Philippa in turn becomes infatuated with finding the king’s final resting place. During her search, she begins to see an apparition of Richard, played by Pete (Harry Lioyd, Jane Eyre) the actor who depicted him in the play, often acting as a device to show Philippa's internal dialogue.
The theme of “searching” appears to be a recurring theme in Frears's work. In his 2016 film Florence Foster Jenkins, Meryl Streep is searching for the validity of her singing aspirations. Judi Dench is looking for her child in Philomena, and Dench is seeking a genuine human connection in Victoria. In The Lost King, Phillipa is not only searching for King Richard III, but also for herself. Frears has a great deal of ground to cover in a short amount of time, so much of the movie is spent going from one scene to the next without adequate time to process all that has happened. The relationship between Phillipa and her family is interwoven throughout the movie, but doesn’t feel fully fleshed out. One moment her children think she's absolutely mad, then a moment later they are championing her on.
Many of the script's flaws can be overlooked by Hawkins excellent performance. She is, in my opinion, the best part of the film, and succeeds with her portrayal of a woman who is determined to succeed in spite of all odds. The joy and warmth Hawkins brings to the table illuminates the character of Philippa. Unlike most historians, she trusts her feelings over facts. Of course there’s definitely an absurdity to it, but it’s her emotions that give her the conviction to keep striving forward.
The accuracy of The Lost King is subject to some controversy. Leicester University is quite dissatisfied with how poorly they are depicted throughout the film, but in fact they fully disregarded Philippa's efforts. It took her eight years to complete her research, which production verified with documentation, film footage, and eyewitness accounts. As a result of this information, the university's claim that they had been searching for Richard for ten years is fully discredited. It is not in their interest to acknowledge the reality of how they jumped on board at the last minute and claimed the discovery as their own. The only dramatic license taken with the film was with Richard’s apparition and the condensed timeline.
The Lost King is an insightful historical drama while also being a somewhat whimsical comedy. It’s so refreshing that the story of Philippa Langley’s passion project is told as it should be. The film highlights the struggles of an outsider trying to earn respect and recognition in academia. The story is told with compassion and humor while teaching a little history as well. Although it is a tad slow at the beginning, the film doesn't rely on a lot of the typical over the top dramatics many retellings use to make the truth sound somewhat more interesting. That alongside Hawkins’s charming performance makes The Lost King well worth watching. I’m certain audiences will enjoy this account of a remarkable discovery and learn the importance of always believing in oneself - about as certain as Philippa was concerning finding King Richard III’s remains.
Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 1 | Story and Message - 2| Entertainment Value - 1 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1| Reviewer's Preference -1 | What does this mean?