“Spencer is a dive inside an emotional imagining of who Diana was at a pivotal turning point in her life.” — Kristen Stewart
Written by Steven Knight and directed by Pablo Larrain, Spencer follows Princess Diana, played by Kristen Stewart, on that fateful weekend at the royal family’s traditional Christmas celebration at Sandringham Estate. There’s eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game. This year, things will be a lot different.
The marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, played by Jack Farthing, has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate.
“We all grew up understanding what a fairytale is, but Diana Spencer changed the paradigm and the idealized icons that pop culture creates forever. This is the story of a Princess who decided not to become a Queen but chose to build her identity by herself. It’s an upside-down fairytale,” explains Larrain. “I’ve always been very surprised by her decision and thought it must have been very hard. That is the heart of the movie. I wanted to explore Diana’s process as she oscillates between doubt and determination, finally making a bid for freedom, not just for herself but for her children too. It was a decision that would define her legacy: one of honesty and humanity that remains unparalleled.”
Larrain needed a strong cast because it’s a character-driven story. He feels Stewart can be many things. She can be very mysterious, fragile, and ultimately decisive. “The way she responded to the script and how she approached the character is very beautiful to see. As a filmmaker, when you have someone who can hold such a dramatic and narrative weight just with her eyes, then you have the strong lead who can deliver. She is a force of nature.”
The rest of the talented cast includes Sally Hawkins, Timothy Spall and Sean Harris.
