The king’s speech and communication disorders

The king’s speech is a 2010 British film directed by Tom Hooper and starring Colin Firth. Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of George VI, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter. The film was applauded by the public and critics, who praised the acting quality of its actors. But in addition to the brilliant interpretive work, we must highlight the importance of the sets, the costumes… that draw scenes that take us to the time of George VI himself.

The king’s speech It brings us closer to the most intimate aspects of a historical figure: King George VI of the United Kingdom, and does so in a masterful way. Its impeccable script and its great artistic and cinematographic quality earned the film the Oscar for best screenplay and best film, among other awards. Definitely, an excellent work that brings us closer to a problem quite forgotten by cinema: stuttering.

Through a historical character, we delve into the insecurity and anxiety that accompany people who suffer from this communication disorder. The fear of speaking in public, the anxiety it entails and the rudimentary techniques of the time will make George VI an insecure man., full of fears. Some ghosts that will make him feel incapable of giving a speech worthy of his status as duke and, later, king.

With the help of a peculiar speech therapist, Lionel Logue, George VI will begin therapy that, beyond helping him with his communication problem, will make him establish a strong friendship with Logue and allow him to bring his deepest fears to light. At the same time, viewers witness a more human side of royalty and enjoy the challenges that Logue proposes, delving not only into the problems derived from stuttering, but also into the history of the 20th century. Smooth, elegant and pleasant, that’s how it is The king’s speech; a film that, never better said, will leave us speechless.

George VI and Lionel Logue

George VI, known as Bertie in the family environment, was an unexpected king, as he was the second son of King George V and, therefore, the one who should ascend to the throne was his older brother Edward VIII., who reigned, but for a very short period of time. His upbringing was strict and worthy of British royalty, but he always knew that he would not reign and, therefore, most of the pressure and responsibility always fell on his older brother.

His first communication problems appeared in childhood, as in most children, around 4 or 5 years of age. His status as Duke of York, son of the king and member of the British royal family meant that he was forced to give some speeches at public events., something that aggravated his situation: anxiety made his stuttering even more marked. He experienced fear of public speaking and countless insecurities. He tried his luck with a large number of doctors and methods that promised to cure his stuttering, but none were successful.

Lionel Logue, for his part, had no training in medicine, but, during his youth in Australia, he trained in public speaking and performing arts and, after the First World War, he dedicated himself completely to his work as a speech therapist. He opened his practice in London, where the then Duke of York would go.

Logue diagnosed “Bertie” with poor coordination between the larynx and the diaphragm. and helped him overcome his stuttering thanks to relaxation exercises, tongue twisters and other unusual practices for the time. Later and thanks to his recognition, he became one of the founding members of the College of Speech Therapists in 1944.

In the film, We follow the therapy carried out by Logue and the achievements of the future king. This therapy ends up leading to a great friendship that will last the rest of their lives. “Bertie” finds an ally in Logue, someone to trust and someone to whom he can tell his greatest fears.. The therapy is not based solely on gargling or putting stones in the mouth as other doctors of the time proposed, but rather tries to delve deeper into the reason that led Bertie to “lose his voice.”

At first, the Duke is reluctant to Logue’s methods, unwilling to be treated as one of the others and wants to be referred to as “His Royal Highness”, however, Logue calls him Bertie, just like his older relatives. intimate, refusing to give him special treatment.

Finally, Logue will gain his trust and we will discover a sad past in Bertie, a childhood in which he was subjected to ridicule, in which he suffered the tragic death of one of his brothers and in which he could not be himself. His strict upbringing and the harsh demands of royalty made George VI an insecure and self-conscious man, unable to give a speech. and, furthermore, forced to use his right hand, although he was actually left-handed.

The king’s speechIn addition to delving into this communication disorder, it shows us the hardest side of royalty and being a public personality from birth. At the same time, The friendship between both characters brings George VI a little closer to the reality of his people, to the lives of the people he leads.. As he himself indicates in one of his first sessions, his ignorance of the world is total; he only knows life in the palace.

The king’s speech, the voice of the people

David Seidler, author of the script, suffered from stuttering in his childhood and found in George VI a figure in which he could be inspired, in which he could see himself reflected.. Therefore, she decided to investigate how he overcame his disorder and talk to Logue’s son, who would lend her some of his father’s notebooks. Additionally, one of his grandsons, Mark Logue, wrote a book titled The King’s speech: How one man saved the British Monarchy, which inspired the film’s title. The project was delayed for several years until, in 2010, we were able to enjoy the brilliant final result.

Thanks to the high quality of the film and its performers, we have the opportunity to get closer to this royal figure, a stuttering man who became the voice of an empire at a very delicate moment., just when World War II was about to break out. A moment in which it was crucial that the leaders of the various nations had the necessary charisma to transmit tranquility to their citizens, a moment in which George VI had to face his greatest fears and assume control of a situation that he did not expect: becoming king of the British Empire.

Can a stutterer become a great speaker? Demosthenes, who is mentioned in the film, already achieved this with great effort in Ancient Greece. On his part, George VI, thanks to the tireless help of Logue and with the support of his wife, he managed to convey that calm that the British needed so much at that time. At one point in the film, George VI is seen visualizing a speech by Hitler and, although he does not understand the language, his insecurity becomes palpable when he sees Hitler’s ease and charisma when speaking in public.

The scenes of the speeches are so real that we can almost feel on our own skin the anxiety and agony of the king before a microphone, before the critical gaze of his audience. The king’s speech is a magnificent work that takes us on a journey to the past and invites us to discover one of the most common fears..

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