review of tom hooper’s the king’s speech starring colin firth, geoffrey rush and helena bonham carter

Can a relationship form between a stuttering man and a cynical, offbeat man? Yes if the former was the King of Britain and the latter was his speech therapist. But it’s not really a doctor - patient relationship and the complexity and depth of that relation is what really makes The King’s speech stand out.

Set in the 1920’s and 1930’s Britain, the film tells the story of King George VI (Colin Firth), who, to overcome his stammer, sees Lionel Logue, an unorthodox Australian speech therapist played by Geoffrey Rush. The two men become friends as they work together, and after his brother Edward VIII abdicates, the new king relies on Logue to help him make a radio bbroadcast at the beginning of World War II.

If it was only a man lending hand to another man and helping him overcome his speech impediment, the film wouldn’t have even made it to the Oscars. It’s something deeper than that; Logue sets the “little George” in Britain’s King free. He communicates with his soul, helping him along the way to get rid of what it is that has been stifling this soul for so long, and George responds because for the first time in his life, someone sees in him much more than an introvert with a stutter.

The intensity of relations between all characters in the film is amplified with solid performances from all the leads, especially from Firth whose performance earned him an Oscar for Best actor, as well as Rush and Helena Bonham Carter who earned Oscar nominations in the supporting categories.

The King’s Speech is not your usual Hollywood entertainment film but it is a true engaging period piece about how the feelings of friendship can come up to the level of true love.