A fairytale turned horror story. Pablo Lorrain's “Spencer” is a thrilling biopic that follows the life of Princess Diana during a tense three-day Christmas holiday with the royal family.
While one could easily make conclusions on what the tension looked like during these occasions, it is not nearly enough to prepare you for the film. “Spencer” is filled with scattered dream sequences, striking symbolism and a score that will transcend you into Princess Diana’s psyche.
With the signature short blonde bob haircut, various hats and keen fashion sense, Kristen Stewart plays the late Princess Di. From her meek demeanor to her soft facial expressions, Stewart matches the princess’ mannerisms to a tee.
What's It About?
The film takes place during a 1991 Christmas at one of Queen Elizabeth II’s private residences. It is during this time, where the princess and Prince Charles’s (Jack Farthing) marriage begins to fall apart. Throughout the film, Diana is overcome with anxiety, fear and bulimic episodes as she forces herself to follow Royal standards.
Diana accumulates several strikes throughout her visit.
Strike 1: She drives herself to the holiday festivities and is late to the gathering because she gets lost driving through a neighborhood she grew up in - symbolic to how she’s lost herself throughout the years.
Once she reaches the property, she receives a cold greeting from the family’s watchdog (Timothy Spall), who has been hired to be the eyes and ears of the Queen during the holiday. Finally, she is reunited with her sons William (Jack Nielen) and Harry (Freddie Spry). Suddenly, light is back in her eyes and she puts on her brave face.
Not long after, her intense anxiety and depression begins to set in. Diana starts seeing visions, most prominently of Anne Boleyn, the late wife of Henry the VIII who was beheaded so her husband could remarry. The princess finds similarities in the situation due to Prince Charles’ affair.
Diana finds companionship in staff member Maggie (Sally Hawkins), who she confides in and turns to for comfort as she struggles to exist in the royal environment.
Strike 2: In true Diana fashion, the princess wishes to pick out her own clothes, yet the royals insist on having all her outfits assigned.
Maggie grants the princess her wishes but once the Royals catch on to this scheme and gain insight into the two’s relationship, Maggie is sent off. Now, Diana really starts to lose her grip.
This film is not your ordinary biopic. Lorrain uses gory metaphors to portray his vision of Diana’s unraveling mental state.
In probably the most riveting scene, Diana wears pearls identical to those of the ones her husband gave his mistress. While at dinner in a dream-like state, Diana pulls the pearls off her neck, scattering them around her and into her pea soup. Mockingly, she eats the soup the Royals forced her to eat, painfully cracking the pearls with her teeth.
In the next scene, she walks out in excruciating pain.
This scene is unsettling for the audience but is a symbolic illusion created by Lorrain to illustrate the mental and physical pain Diana underwent.
Throughout the film, the Royal watchdog keeps a close eye on Diana, reporting her actions to the Queen, thus adding to the Princess’ stress. Strike 3, 4, 5 and on. The princess is officially isolated from herself and the Royals.
Towards the end of the movie, flashbacks show Diana in her earlier youth as a fashion icon, ballerina and quiet girl who liked to keep to herself. She is carried away in this reminiscent state.
At the end, in her final strike and act of defiance, Diana interrupts Charles’ day of bird shooting with the younger princes and takes them home. Driving off in her small car, top down, the three drive off from the large property reciting the lyrics to “All I Need is A Miracle” by Mike & the Mechanics.
They end up at the Tower Bridge indulging in a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Watch It Or Not?
There is a reason Kristen Stewart got a five-minute standing ovation at the film's premiere at the Venice Film Festival. And you will see why in the film.
Rating: 10/10.
