King

We made it to see The King's Speech. Something wonderfully small about it. A small story of fear, and friendship. Of people doing their duty to the best of their ability. Smart people, witty folks, caught up in History. Not a Big, Important story, just one well told. The reasons for this one man's damage uncommon in specifics, but the casual cruelty to children normal at the time. Common still, if not considered normal anymore. Not dwelled upon, not revealed easily, no psychobabble explanations. Someone to root for, because there are so few people on his side.

Not important, because the role of King held so little real power, although meaningful to the people of that world.

I did keep imagining Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Mother, as an 80-90 year old, in pastel suits and large hats. Not hard.

A full, appreciative, and adult audience helped. D and I were probably the median age, not a child in the place. There was some very funny gratuitous profanity. Flashes of wit, laughs in the midst of tragedy, even during the speech opening the war. The best laughs are always then, when the alternative is tears.

Difficult, intensely human characters.