Starring Colin Firth as George VI in a career defining role this is a tremendously moving account of the former monarch’s personal battle with his shyness, his stammer and his low self esteem. Helping him to battle his personal demons are his loving and loyal wife The Duchess of York (later to become Queen Elizabeth) played by Helena Bonham Carter and his speech therapist Lionel Logue (another fantastic performance by Geoffrey Rush).

After a disastrous public speech at the closing of the 1925 British Empire Exhibition ‘Bertie’ aka George along with his wife Elizabeth enlists the help of unorthodox speech therapist Lionel Logue. The film charts their often stormy relationship as the two men attempt to not only overcome the-would-be King’s speech impediment but also his inner demons. Logue discovers that much of Bertie’s problems stem from his childhood, quite common for those afflicted with a stammer. Also he feels overshadowed by his more confident and charismatic elder brother David, later to become King Edward VIII (a top notch turn by Guy Pearce), as well as undermined and bullied by his well meaning yet overbearing father King George V (played by an almost unrecognisable Michael Gambon).

What makes this film so special is that it manages to take a public figure at the highest level, a King no less, and manages to make him a very human and vulnerable individual. Firth’s excellent portrayal makes the viewer feel tremendous warmth, goodwill and compassion to the former monarch. On several occasions I was deeply moved as the film charted his struggle. I felt myself willing the King on in his struggle to perform his duties as monarch. The film is excellently atmospheric and even manages to make a microphone look intimidating and menacing.

The film has already been nominated for several awards and thanks to excellently heartfelt performances all round, together with its authenticity capturing the mood, feeling and look of 1930s Britain with all of its problems: depression and war with Hitler’s Germany looming fully deserves all the acclaim it gets. ‘The King’s Speech’ is film making at its finest, I urge everyone of all ages and backgrounds to go and see this wonderfully uplifting drama.