The Lost King

➤ Rated PG-13
➤ Theaters

“And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover, to entertain these fair, well-spoken days, I am determined to prove a villain.”

Richard III opens Shakespeare’s play with these words, and it’s Richard’s villainous reputation at the center of a new movie called The Lost King.

Chronically ill and uninspired by her office job, Philippa Langley (played by Sally Hawkins) goes to the theater to see Richard III with her sons on a rainy Scottish night. From that moment on, she can think of little else, failing to make meals for her family and even quitting her job. She gathers every book on the medieval king she can find, attends lectures, and joins a society of amateur historians intent on restoring the dead king’s image.

Further, she’s spurred on by regular and comical apparitions of the king himself (played by Harry Lloyd).

History tells us that Richard III was killed in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, but what happened to his body after the fighting is the mystery Philippa wants to solve, in part to correct the historical record.

The popular image of Richard III passed down to us by Shakespeare is that of a hunchbacked villain, who wants to steal the crown for himself (portrayed in a 1955 film by Laurence Olivier). But Philippa and her band of excitable friends contend that there is more to the story.

What starts as a wild goose chase turns into an all-out hunt, thanks to Philippa’s determination and rigor in digging up the past. No spoilers here, but you will enjoy where her quest takes her.

If you’re not schooled on your late medieval English history, never fear—the movie will fill you in. Thanks to the Norman Conquest, the line of Plantagenet kings of England began in 1154 and ended with Richard III when the Tudor line under Henry VII took over in 1485.

Philippa contends that it was in the new king’s best interest to besmirch Richard’s name by casting him as enemy and usurper of the throne, thereby strengthening his own image and establishing a new line of kings in England.

Like Richard, Philippa is capable of great things despite her ­physical setbacks. The comparison between the two is drawn out too tidily in the movie, but Hawkins’ performance captures Philippa’s change from mousy office drone to energized explorer of history.

The Lost King, based on a true story, is full of fascinating historical detail and is a treasure hunt to be enjoyed by a wide audience.

Director Stephen Frears (High Fidelity, The Queen, Florence Foster Jenkins) teamed with Steve Coogan, who co-wrote the script, to adapt the story from Philippa Langley’s book. While Frears’ ­movies from the 1980s and ’90s are edgy, his recent work is more appropriate for families, taking on historical subject matter in a light tone.

Inspiring films based on true stories

• Lawrence of Arabia / 1962
• Chariots of Fire / 1981
• Apollo 13 / 1995
• Remember the Titans / 2000
• Luther / 2003
• Valkyrie / 2008
• 42 / 2013
• Hidden Figures / 2016
• Dunkirk / 2017