The object of an unfathomable mystery since his death, the remains of Richard III of England (1452-185) could not be found, until an enthusiast discovered it and had his discovery stolen.
If the Briton Stephen Frears made several memorable films about the Tudor dynasty, in The Queen Or Royal Confidentit is the first time that he has approached that of the Plantagenets, in Richard III, the last representative of this line, and with a calamitous reputation. The Lost Kingreleased on March 29 in theaters, retraces the journey of Philippa Langley, passionate about history with an iron will who, on a simple intuition, armed with tons of documents, and despite the incomprehension of those close to her and the distrust of the academic world, wanted to restore the truth about Richard III, one of the most controversial monarchs in history.
Under the asphalt, the grave
The film had been presented at the Toronto International Festival (Tiff), the day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and was released in theaters less than two months before the planned coronation of Charles III. Why does the British royal family continue to fascinate so many people? “I don’t know, people are just (fascinated) !“, replied to AFP the 81-year-old director in Toronto.And it seems that I took advantage of it. So I better shut up“, joked the author of The Queen in 2006, with Helen Mirren as Elizabeth II, adding…”i am a republican“!
The Lost King, in the form of a dramatic comedy, tells the true story of a Scottish amateur historian, Philippa Langley, who left to brave all the obstacles to find the remains of Richard III. An unusual quest, which will lead her to the bowels of a car park.
Spoiled
If the film, remarkably interpreted by Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) in Philippa Langley, reveals for many this unusual story, The Lost King is above all the story of a passionate woman. Despite her strength of intuition, her pugnacity and the verification of her allegations, she will be spoiled for her discovery, her creativity, her invention. Like many others. Names ? Alice Guy (cinema pioneer), Joceyn Bell (astrophysicist), Lise Meitner (physicist). Or Artemisia (painter) who could not sign her works for a long time, or Mary Shelley whose famous Frankenstein was attributed in its first edition in 1818 to the name of her poet husband Percy B. Shelley.
Frears makes us seethe in our armchair when he follows us through the pangs she goes through to find funding for her research. And especially during the recovery by the University of Leicester of the fruit of its research, once the body of Richard III discovered. Superbly written, directed and performed, The Lost King takes you from start to finish in a lively, tender, funny and corrosive story. Exciting.
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The sheet
Gender : Drama
Director: Stephen Frears
Actors: Sally Hawkins, Steve Coogan, Harry Lloyd
Country : Great Britain / France
Duration : 1h49
Exit : March 29 2023
Distributer : Pathe