Spencer - My Thoughts 💭

“Spencer” is far better than I had originally thought it had any right to be. In-between feeling over-saturated by the cloying character of Diana in the last two seasons of “The Crown” and the Naomi Watts starred film “Diana” back in 2013, which was severely slaughtered and I thought not quite as bad as people seemed to make it out to be. I was getting a bit of Diana sequel fatigue. Then there is the fact that I am unequivocally not a fan of Kristen Stewart (who plays the title role) and I usually tend to avoid her at all costs! So why did I enjoy this film so much?

Tonally, the director takes a somewhat different slant and covers the mostly interior world of Diana over the Christmas holidays (three days) and her interactions with her children and servants at the Queen’s stifling Sandringham Estate, Norfolk. The film follows Diana’s mental health, paranoia and dealing with the constraints and mores of the royal family post the worldwide knowledge of the affair Charles has with Camilla and the media scrutiny surrounding these events, before she finally decides to leave Prince Charles.

In fact, there is next to no interaction with the Queen nor Prince Charles. It’s all inner conflict played out in a haunting, gothic melodrama style which while it may not work for some, it does the film wonders and is highly cinematic! It feels fresh, its take unique, its soundtrack by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood is tense and disturbing. My initial reservations of Kristen Stewart in the role were finally quashed (after a little getting use to her’s and the writer’s interpretation.) Kristin Stewart as Diana embodies the character and encompasses many of the mannerisms of the real Diana as well as her distinct way of speaking. Kristin Stewart has deservedly been nominated for best actress in a leading role at this year’s Oscars. Although Stewart, along with screenwriter Steven Knight have fashioned an edgier picture of the woman; some may simply see the characterisation of Diana as paranoid, rude and spoilt, yet this is to miss the point. It is best to understand this as an imagined retelling of anyone being in the public limelight and the taxing emotional struggles one faces over the important distinction between one’s public and private life - a freedom we know Diana was not afforded. Furthermore, after the title card at the beginning of the film, it’s subtitled ‘A fable from a true tragedy’, and it’s this fictional element of historic characters that really allows the film to breathe, for discerning audiences to see matters in a new light and to reflect on other people in society that are placed in similar circumstances such as becoming a part of a royal family and the inherent dangers associated with the pressures of this everyday scrutiny.

There are also fine supporting roles by Timothy Spall, Sally Hawkins and Sean Harris. The direction by Chilean Pablo Larraín is superior, who also directed another historical fiction film “Jackie” (2016) starring Natalie Portman. The lighting and brilliant production design by Guy Hendrix Dyas, the effective use of costumes by Jacqueline Durran (they almost become a significant character in the film due to the many wardrobe changes) and the superbly haunting tone supported by cinematographer Claire Mathon all contribute to the overall success of “Spencer”.

⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ out of 5

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You can also check out my recent review of “C’mon C’mon” starring Joaquin Phoenix below: