ComedyDramaHistory

The Lost King

- Her story made history.

An amateur historian defies the academic establishment in her efforts to find King Richard III's remains, which were lost for over 500 years.

Release Date : 2022-10-07

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Baby Cow ProductionsBBC FilmIngenious MediaPathéMagaritz Productions

Production Country : FranceUnited Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Philippa Langley

Original Name : Sally Hawkins

Gender : Female

Character Name : John Langley

Original Name : Steve Coogan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richard III/Pete

Original Name : Harry Lloyd

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richard Buckley

Original Name : Mark Addy

Gender : Male

Character Name : John Ashdown-Hill

Original Name : James Fleet

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richard Taylor

Original Name : Lee Ingleby

Gender : Male

Character Name : Max Langley

Original Name : Adam Robb

Gender : Male

Character Name : Raife Langley

Original Name : Benjamin Scanlan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sarah Levitt

Original Name : Amanda Abbington

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tony

Original Name : Lewis Macleod

Gender : Male

Character Name : Big Keith

Original Name : David Ireland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Annette

Original Name : Alison Peebles

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hamish

Original Name : Bruce Fummey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lorna

Original Name : Glenna Morrison

Gender : Female

Character Name : Graham

Original Name : Simon Donaldson

Gender : Male

Character Name : RR Lawrence

Original Name : Julian Firth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jo Appleby

Original Name : Phoebe Pryce

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mathew Morris

Original Name : Alasdair Hankinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kelly

Original Name : Shonagh Price

Gender : Male

Character Name : Awusi

Original Name : Helen Katamba

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ken

Original Name : Kern Falconer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Susan

Original Name : Sarah MacGillivray

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jessica

Original Name : Annie Griffin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Anil

Original Name : Nomaan Khan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jim

Original Name : Harvey Reid

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bookseller

Original Name : Jessica Hardwick

Gender : Female

Character Name : Car Park Attendant

Original Name : Manjot Sumal

Gender : Male

Character Name : Buckingham

Original Name : John Paul Hurley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richmond

Original Name : James Rottger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Receptionist

Original Name : Iman Akhtar

Gender : Male

Character Name : Buckley’s PA

Original Name : Sharon Osdin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Taylor's PA

Original Name : Jade Ogugua

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Mark Jeary

Gender : Male

Character Name : Schoolgirl 1

Original Name : Violet Hughes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Schoolgirl 2

Original Name : Josie O'Brien

Gender : Female

Character Name : Pete's Daughter

Original Name : Saylor Lloyd

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mourner (Uncredited)

Original Name : Philippa Langley

Gender : Female

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-10-08

Sally Hawkins turns in an enthusiastic performance here as the determined Philippa Langley. Separated from her husband (Steve Coogan), she is sort of at the end of her tether when she takes her young son to see a stage version of Shakespeare's "Richard III". Taken with the tragedy of that story, she joins the local "Ricardians" and soon determines that this particular historical figure has had a bit of a bad press, and so she sets out to try and track down the hitherto unidentified location of his corpse. It's based on a true story, so we know what actually happened but the drama offered here is still quite engaging as she has to convince the powers that be to allow her to dig up their car park, then try to fend off their collective claims of success before the ultimate battle to get the man buried with some semblance of his real life status and is enjoyable to watch, especially once her adventure begins in earnest. Then together with archaeological lead Mark Addy and some spiritual assistance from Harry Lloyd's spectral version of this final Plantaget King - who, along with his horse - seems keen to help her from the grave, this film moves along entertainingly. It certainly doesn't need to be seen at the cinema, and It's a bit of a slow burn to begin with, but overall I quite enjoyed it.

Peter McGinn

@narrator56

2022-11-16

I really enjoyed this movie. Mind you, I have been interested in the long suppressed truth about King Richard III for a long time, so at the very least I appreciate a feature film trying to set the record more straight. But even setting that aside, I thought the movie was entertaining and interesting. They made a lot of small changes from Philippa Langley’s book describing her journey to discovering the body of Richard III, but it was to give the story more dramatic appeal and quirkiness. It seemed to all work for me. I loved Sally Hawkins in Persuasion and she doesn’t disappoint here. Steve Coogan gives an impressive layered performance, and James Fleet and Mark Addy are two terrific British character actors. Having Philippa actually see and speak to Richard III is a device used in many films before, but I think it is an effort to replace strange feelings Langley describes in her story where she felt his presence near where he was buried, even before they confirmed he was there. So I will forgive them that somewhat hackneyed decide. I think the relationship between her and her husband was complex enough to be believable. In my mind I predicted the applause scene at the end, but it did provide a nice closing to the story.