The Lost King – REVIEW

Sally Hawkins delivers a career defining performance in this exquisitely filmed drama, playing the role of Philippa Langley, a woman who in 2012 discovered the burial ground of King Richard III in a Leicester car park.

Obsessed with solving the 500 year mystery she was determined to follow her instincts regardless that nobody was initially interested, many believing she was crazy and delusional. Several attempts were made to find the burial site to no avail.

The movie follows her efforts in leading the search, raising the funds for the dig, and commissioning the archaeologists, also highlighting the fickle nature of the Leicester university which attempted to take credit for the dig once the remains were confirmed.

Something of a history lesson, the question is also asked; how truthful are the history textbooks? Have the Tudors and historians over the years created lies and falsehoods about King Richard III – was he a wise and good leader or did he really murder his nephews so that he could become king? Were his facial images made to look evil so that future generations would have distorted impressions of him?

Offbeat scenes with an apparition of King Richard III are creatively utilised in the story telling process, seen communicating with Langley and offering her encouragement to continue searching so that her dream of giving him an honourable burial could be fulfilled.

Steve Coogan who co-wrote and produced this project also stars as her ex-husband, a man who always seemed to be there for her as she stressfully jumped each hurdle to achieve her quest. Hawkins is perfectly cast as Langley and audiences should feel all the mixed emotions which are brooding inside her as she is constantly reminded that she allegedly has an unhealthy obsession.

The Lost King is a minor gem which offers moviegoers the opportunity to experience the true story of a remarkable woman who disregarded negativity and ultimately made triumphant world headlines.

★★★★

In Cinemas December 26