The King’s Speech

Director: Tom Hopper

Screenplay: David Seidler

Cast: Colin Firth,Geoffrey Rush,Michael Gambon,Guy Pearce,Helena Bonham Carter and Timothy Spall

A historical drama,the film is based on the Royal family and revolves around Bertie,King George VI. Bertie is a Royal who stutters and the film essays his battle to overcome his speech impediment. The sudden death of Bertie’s father,King George V,is followed by the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII.

The two unforeseen events leave the Royals no other option but to crown Bertie as King George VII of England. But,unlike the other articulate Royals of his clan,Bertie suffers from a debilitating speech impediment. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader,his wife Elizabeth arranges for a speech-therapist who could help her husband deal with his impediment.

Initially,trouble brews among the King and his therapist but,after a rough start the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment. With the support of his therapist,his family and his government,will the King overcome his stuttering?

Director Tom Hooper says: The film is close to my heart and it’s the most personal film that I have made. Like Bertie,my dad too had a tough childhood… he was packed off to a boarding-school at the age of five. As for the budget,I would have loved to try my hand at one of the huge-budget films… but in some way,this film has changed the rule-book for me,because of its huge commercial success. I’m no longer locked into thinking that you can only make a big success if you have a big-budget feature. It’s possible to have success with modest beginnings too!

The Buzz

David Seidler drew inspiration from his personal life for the film. The writer began reading about George VI,after overcoming his own stutter during his youth. Leading actor Colin Firth too suffered from a speech impediment in his early days and is known to have grown up in the company people who stammered.