On New Years Day,  my husband and I attended a showing of  The King’s Speech, a movie produced by the  British-based Weinstein Company. The film is based on the life of the Duke of York (Albert, known to his family as Bertie) who was crowned King George VI,  and was father of Queen Elizabeth II.

A senior I spoke with while waiting in line said she’d seen the movie and knows the history since it played out in her lifetime. She appreciated the story and recommended the movie; she said we’d enjoy it.

As the story goes, when Albert’s brother David gave up his right to rule after his father (George V) died, the next in line to the throne was his younger brother Albert ( played by Colin Firth). Bertie’s reluctance to become king lay mainly in his difficulty with his speech.  Bertie’s loving  (Helena Bonham Carter) goes to great lengths to find someone who can help her husband with his speech and at last finds an Australian man, by the name of Lionel Logue [played by Geoffrey Rush].

What more challenge is there for a king than to speak to his people, and feeling unable to fulfill that role?  I laughed, cried and sympathized with the king and his speech coach. This movie is funny in places, serious, and heart-wrenching at times.

The theatre was packed and the movie sold out, as it has been on several previous showings. I noted the faces of many people as we left that theatre, serious, solemn. All actors, I thought, played their part well, including the children of the Duke of York. The classical music played at various intervals fit well with the pomp around Albert’s new duties as king.

Carol Brooks, a Toastmaster from NewYork, said after seeing the movie, “May we also learn to value our coaches, mentors and loved-ones who share the journey and inspire our efforts. ” She thought people from all walks of life could take something away from this movie. I agree with her, for I found it fascinating.

For more information and trailers on the movie, go here. Far better though to go and see the movie for yourself and come to your own conclusions. For my part, it was well worth the price of the movie ticket and more. It’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.