The Cinephile’s Journey: The King’s Speech

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars

The Cinephile’s Journey is an attempt to watch and review every film that has won The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar for Best Picture.

Plot: “The story of King George VI, his unexpected ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.” -IMDB

Review: I love countless things about the artform of cinema. My favorite thing might be its ability to take something as simple as a king’s war-time speech and build an entire world around it. If you were a British citizen listening on the radio that day, you might have never known the challenge associated with King George VI’s speech. By pulling back the curtain, cinema reveals a beautiful story of friendship and leadership..

In moments of great national turmoil, people need to hear from their leaders. We crave honesty, transparency, and reassurance. If a leader can’t do this effectively, then steering a nation or a kingdom through trying times is nearly impossible. For King George VI (Colin Firth), who suffers from a stammer that makes public speaking a harrowing challenge, this most basic leadership skill is simply out of reach.