Rachel and I watched The King's Speech last Wednesday night, as the winds howled, as the hail crashed, as tornadoes devastated much of the southeastern United States. Maybe the storm that was raging outside our windows made me view this movie differently. We lost power a few times during the storm, but for most of it, we were comfortable in our basement, never threatened by the storm cells that claimed the lives of nearly 300 people. We were comfortable on a night when so many were terrified.
As a result, we didn't take much time to reflect on the movie, to let it sink it, to wonder about it, but I will say that the acting is superb. How Colin Firth managed to capture the speech idiosyncrasies of King George VI is beyond my ability to imagine. In the special features on the DVD they have the actual speech given by the King, and Firth nailed it, hesitations and all. Amazing.
As to the plot, it is engaging and fascinating, as multiple facets fit together to form a moving story. The war in Europe is beginning to blossom as King George V passes away and leaves the throne for his oldest son, a man who is content to chase his beloved rather than reign as King. As Firth grows nearer the throne, his inner conflict develops and his fear of public speaking increases. Geoffrey Rush, his speech therapist, and an odd one at that, demands that he be treated as Firth's equal, despite the societal fact that they are very much not equals. The tension over this is evident throughout the movie, and their unlikely friendship is the core of the story.
The movie is flawless, impeccably done. I enjoyed watching it, and yet, in light of everything that happened on Wednesday, it hasn't sunk in like it might have had I seen it another day. I'd highly recommend it, though, for the acting alone makes it worth your time, and it is an enjoyable story.
It does make me wonder about how we limit the relationships in our own lives. Do we structure how we view people, as to which we see as equals, and which are 'allowed' to be our friends. Do we see the checkout girl or the waiter at the restaurant as our equal, or do we barely acknowledge their presence as we go about our lives? Do we merit the bus driver or the hotel maid as worthy of our time and attention, or do we fail to engage with them as beloved children of the living God?
One of the most fascinating aspects of Jesus was that he treated everyone equally. He loved them all, whether or not they thought they were worthy of it, whether or not the Pharisees saw them worthy of it. He reached out and touched the leper, he talked with the beggar, he converted the woman at the well. He never turned a blind eye, was never too busy. They were all his beloved creations, and he treated them like that.
Will we treat them as the same way? Will we see each person as made in the image of God? Or are we too busy to notice, too burdened to care, too comfortable to reach out?
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