The team which brought us Philomena – Director Stephen Frears, and Writers Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope – now offer another drama based on real events. But The Lost King is rather less successful, charming though it is at times. In Philomena, Martin Sixsmith supports a woman whose child had been taken, and put up for adoption, by nuns. The Lost King, by contrast, lacks that compassionate core. The campaigner is an amateur historian, Philippa Langley, and her quest to find the lost body of Richard III. Although she oozes sympathy for the misunderstood Richard, the victim of Tudor and Shakespearean bias, the tale lacks emotional heft.
Which is not to say Sally Hawkins’ performance is not excellent. She conveys a likeable, if unlikely, protagonist; suffering from ME, overlooked for promotion, and estranged from husband John (Coogan). As the research consumes her, she begins to ‘see’, and converse with, a regally impressive Richard III (Harry Lloyd). Her obsession grows and she is soon missing work. Travelling to Leicester from her Edinburgh home, she is convinced that Richard was laid to rest in the city after defeat at Bosworth Field in 1485. She concludes that Richard is buried beneath the Social Services car park.
This is where the film’s central drama begins. Even if the location is endorsed as possibly accurate, how can the dig be paid for? A key scene is when Philippa presents her case for funding to Leicester City Council. Here she is encouraged by the Chair, but ridiculed by the University’s representative, Richard Taylor, of the Vice-Chancellor’s office. Initial funding optimism gives way to despair, until crowdfunding by the Richard III Society and others enables the dig to take place. Ultimately, Philippa’s hunches are proved right, and the plucky underdog has triumphed.
The film builds on Langley’s 2013 book The King’s Grave: the Search for Richard III. It is hard not to admire her dogged determination. The film encourages us to view Leicester University, in the person of Taylor and Archaeologist Richard Buckley (Mark Addy) as a highly condescending bête noire, claiming undue credit for the successful project. Although the University has disputed the film’s version of events, the slant is clear. However, Steve Coogan has been unapologetic throughout.
The Lost King tells a story of a passionate endeavour with good humour and pace. As you expect from this team, the script is strong. Steve Coogan’s witty and sympathetic turn as John is a strength. His support in Philippa’s quixotic and single-minded mission is touching. Scenes with the Edinburgh Richard III Society also ground the film in a very British little-person eccentricity à la Ealing. But, despite Sally Hawkins’ performance, strong cinematography – including extensive use of Edinburgh locations – the central narrative doesn’t quite compel. In the final analysis, her obsession, even conquering (pretty much) a patronising, self-important academic world, fails to enlist our emotions. A likeable and admirable project – like the search for Richard itself – but not a film to live long in the memory.
Screened at Eden Court, Inverness and at cinemas nationwide