The King's speech (2010, Tom Hooper)

The story of ‘Bertie’ known later as King Georges VI (Queen Elisabeth’s father) trying to overcome his stammering problem with the help of his wife and a self-taught speech therapists.

 

This would be the first movie I comment on here and hey, I feel lucky cause it’s a great one and it’s got unanimous support from critics. Watch out though, I’m not saying that is the reason I liked it. I went to see the King’s speech because of ‘who’s in it’ : Colin Firth (Pride and Prejudice), Geoffrey Rush (Children of the Revolution), Helena Bonham Carter (whom we usually see in Tim Burton’s movies), Guy Pearce (LA Confidential)…are in it and these are people I have admiration for.

I usually defend a film when people are deceived because of A list stars appearing in mindless popcorn flicks though I understand the fact that they tend to expect much. This is no mindless flick so I don’t think I owe an explanation to anyone about how good this movie is. Now, I’ll put it this way : good story, great casting and performances, brilliant screenplay (never heard of David Seidler and Tom Hooper before), interesting if you want to know a small part of Great Britain in a certain era.  

Good luck for the oscars guys!!!

 

The speech

“In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas, this message, spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself.

For the second time in the lives of most of us, we are at war.

Over and over again, we have tried to find a peaceful way out of the differences between ourselves and those who are now our enemies; but it has been in vain.

We have been forced into a conflict, for which we are called, with our allies to meet the challenge of a principle which, if it were to prevail, would be fatal to any civilized order in the world.

It is a principle which permits a state in the selfish pursuit of power to disregard its treaties and its solemn pledges, which sanctions the use of force or threat of force against the sovereignty and independence of other states.

Such a principle, stripped of all disguise, is surely the mere primitive doctrine that might is right, and if this principle were established through the world, the freedom of our own country and of the whole British Commonwealth of nations would be in danger.

But far more than this, the peoples of the world would be kept in bondage of fear, and all hopes of settled peace and of security, of justice and liberty, among nations, would be ended.

This is the ultimate issue which confronts us.  For the sake of all that we ourselves hold dear, and of the world order and peace, it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge.

It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home and my peoples across the seas, who will make our cause their own.

I ask them to stand calm and firm and united in this time of trial.

The task will be hard.  There may be dark days ahead, and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield, but we can only do the right as we see the right, and reverently commit our cause to God.  If one and all we keep resolutely faithful to it, ready for whatever service or sacrifice it may demand, then with God’s help, we shall prevail.

May He bless and keep us all."