Review of Spencer (2021) by Soloyt — 09 Nov 2021

What is Specner?

Despite what a good portion of the audience anticipated when the purchased their tickets, this film is not at all a biopic that spanning Diana's entire life. Nor is everything you see on screen meant to be taken at face value. The film describes itself best as, "A fable from a true tragedy," that chronicles the Christmas weekend in which she chose to take her life by the reigns and leave Prince Charles.

Why Spencer?

A lot of people have been wondering why this movie was entitled "Spencer." This is because it is Princess Diana's maiden name. This film ultimately revolves around who Diana wants to be in comparison who how the royal family desires for her to present herself. With who she identified as prior to her royal engagement serving as a common motif throughout the course of the film. Making "Spencer" a fitting title. Who does this film claim Diana is?

The one element that this film absolutely had to get right was it's representation of such a prominent, and beloved, recent historical figure Diana. This film absolutely hits the nail on the head whether it be Kristen Stewart's Oscar worthy performance as Spencer herself, but most importantly in her characterization. Here we she is akin to a entrapped animal. She is persecuted for showing any sort of individualism or deviating from the path that has been set out for her. She is told that, "There has to be two of you. There's the real one, and the one they take pictures of." However she is oppressed under this monarchy and is given no opportunity to draw the curtains and be herself. However her kind spirit shins through the sadness around her in her interactions with her children and the staff who are meant to serve her and it is shown how all she asks in return is to just be loved a independent woman. What's the feel?

The film in a way carries itself like a psychological horror. It's score is meant to make the audience feel as claustrophobic and imprisoned as Spencer does herself. Whenever the you hear the sharp edge of the violin, you are ensnared by the illusion that the film casts upon you, which is rather remarkable. What is a common motif:

The film compares Princess Diana to birds that are hunted for sport by Charles. She marvels at their unique beauty and exclaims which is representative of the beauty distinctive beauty that is found within each of us. At the beginning of the movie there is a long shot of a dead bird as the royal entourage pulls up in uniformity, highlighting how Diana was individually dead as a member of that family. Charles wants to have their eldest son join him in shooting these birds and killing individuality in doing so. However Diana pushes back, by running in front of the birds spotlighting her own distinctiveness in doing so and asking for her children to accompany her home raising them to celebrate individuality in the process. What are my concise thoughts?

This film is a masterfully crafted celebration of our differences and an accurate depiction of Princess Diana that will allow for her memory to live on for generations to come.