The Lost King, a film about finding Richard III, by Stephen Frears

Showing all posts tagged: Stephen Frears

The Lost King, a film about finding Richard III, by Stephen Frears

10 December 2022

The Lost King, trailer, tells the story — in its own way — of British writer Philippa Langley, and her relentless work to find the body of English King, Richard III, who died at the Battle of Bosworth Field, in the English county of Leicestershire, in 1485.

There’s some serious British talent involved here. Veteran filmmaker Stephen Frears — whose previous work includes My Beautiful Laundrette, The Queen, Tamara Drewe (where I saw him speak at a screening thereof in Sydney in 2011), and Philomena — directs.

Steve Coogan, who also co-wrote the screenplay, portrays Langley’s husband, John, while Langley herself is played by Sally Hawkins. Hawkins has to be one of the most prolific actors around. Her career started in 1999 with a role as an extra in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and since then she has been in Cassandra’s Dream, An Education, Never Let Me Go, Made in Dagenham, Submarine, Blue Jasmine, The Shape of Water, and Spencer. To name but a few.

The Lost King opens in Australian cinemas on Monday 26 December 2022.

The Queen, a film by Stephen Frears, with Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen

9 February 2007

Constitutional politics has always fascinated me. And The Queen offers — for me at least — an intriguing insight into the British governing hierarchy.

Set in 1997, newly elected Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) nervously sets off to meet the Queen (Helen Mirren), to be invited to form a Government. While the Prime Minister holds the real, executive power, the Queen has an authority of her own. But this standing is threatened, following the death of Princess Diana, in the weeks following Blair’s election.

Originally published Friday 9 February 2007.