The Lost King

Last night I decided on a double feature at the Broadway and I started with The Lost King which is incredibly charming.  After missing out on a promotion because she suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins) attends a production of Richard III and decides that he was unfairly maligned by Shakespeare because he had a disability.  She identifies with Richard, as someone who also feels misunderstood, so she reads every biography she can find and joins a Richard III Society (there is a hilarious scene where one of the members says she looks too normal to want to join them).  She also begins seeing an apparition of Richard (Harry Lloyd) which spurs her on. When she decides to search for his missing remains, which have been lost for over 500 years, her ex-husband John (Steve Coogan) is concerned, a University of Leicester archaeologist named Richard Buckley (Mark Addy) is skeptical, and the University of Leicester registrar Richard Taylor (Lee Ingleby) is dismissive, but despite all of these obstacles she perseveres and is ultimately successful.  This is based on a true story (with a little magical realism thrown in for good measure) and the details about the search for Richard are compelling but I also really appreciated the journey Langley takes to assert her worth against all odds.  Hawkins is absolutely delightful in the role and gives a warm and spirited performance worth cheering for (many in my crowded theater laughed and cheered throughout).  This fun and lighthearted movie about a quirky British underdog who is unwilling to give up reminded me of Dream Horse, The Duke, and The Phantom of the Open and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I recommend seeking this out when you have a free afternoon.