The King’s Speech

The King’s Speech is the film of the year, with 12 nominations for the Oscars and it goes on general release in Romania on Friday 11 February. I had a privileged pre-viewing at the Movieplex Cinema on Monday evening.

I loved this film! It is a very moving story of a figure in British history who deserves to be better known – George VI, father of our present Queen and leader of our country in the dark days of World War Two. The film tells the story of how he stepped up to the challenge of kingship following his brother’s abdication and conquered his personal fears about speaking in public and broadcasting on the radio.

Romania too had a monarch in the Second World War who also stepped up to the challenge after the abdication of his predecessor and, like George VI, led his country through this most difficult period with wisdom and courage. But there are parallels too for all of us. The film is about how we all as individuals can meet the challenges life presents us, with determination and with the help of our families and those closest to us. Or as Lennon and McCartney put it, “We’ll get by with a little help from our friends”.