Useful Links,
The Irish McGuire Programme www.stammering.ie
The Irish Stammering Association - http://www.stammeringireland.ie/
Book Review on the British Stammering Association Website http://www.stammering.org/review_oshea.html
The British Stammering Association - www.stammering.org
Review of the King’s Speech - From a stammerer's perspective
If your interest in the Kings Speech is motivated by culture, history, or like me an interest from the stammering perspective this film is an excellent piece of cinema.
The Kings speech show clearly from the first scene the physical and psychological struggle that the future King is going through. Colin Firth who plays the part of the King articulates very well in the opening scene as we see him clad in top hat, draped in black, with an expression as if he was witnessing his own death as he is engulfed by fear, physical and mental struggle, the look of helplessness as his stammer grips him like a vice.
What is captured very well for the first time on screen is the reaction of the immediate audience, you see clearly see as the camera swoops around his audience, as the deadly silence descends when the future King struggles to say that very word “King” you see as they uncomfortably shuffle in their seats trying to distract themselves, looking away, nervous tension spreads around like an incoming fog, the emotional pain on the face of his wife Elizabeth is quite evident.
Speech Therapy and other professional help are offered to the future King, as a person who stammers I presume this help was sought from a young age. Elizabeth hears about and engages the services of Lional Logue an Australian with no academic qualifications regarding speech therapy. Lional is a failed actor, but he impresses both Elizabeth and her husband who is affectionately known among those close to him as Bertie.
As the speech sessions continue Logue digs deep to explore the deep seated psychological roots of the future Kings stammer, Logue questions and gets answers, years of emotional abuse which he may have suffered growing up come to the fore, many people who stammer can readily relate to this, as the King explains this part of his life you can see him being emotional but also more open to Logue as their respect for each other grows.
With time and practice every day Logue works wonders with Bertie, a set back happens when a family tiff with his brother Edward who will in the future abdicate the throne to allow Bertie be a reluctant King. Edward openly mocks Bertie, he knows which buttons to press to silence him, Bertie immediately reverts to sever blocking which leads again to an uncomfortable silence as they stare each other down, Edward just walks away leaving Bertie quiet clearly humiliated by his own brother.
When it becomes obvious that Bertie will become the future King his advisers which include the Archbishop advice Bertie to get professional help regarding his communication difficulty, Bertie will have none of it, he knows from previous experience that the professionals did not address his stammering as Lional did. Logue had a completely different approach which Bertie appreciated as he continually made progress.
There is of course a triumphant end to the film, the new King addresses his people by then new technology of radio, Lional prepares a speech room without distractions, just him and the King. Logue give the King the special prepared text with all pauses marked in red, the light goes red the King begins full focus, full control, the practice and commitment to achieve has worked the King is congratulated as he leaves the bubble of security, the cinema audience including myself goes quiet as we silently acknowledge what has achieved. What is really moving is the friendship, respect, and trust that the King and Logue have foe each other. They continued to work together for many years and became good friends.
The film is without question an impressive work, it is a credit to the film makers. For once a film that portrays stammering as it really is on a daily basis for some who are challenged by it. A film that will be of great value for the future awareness of stammering and its associated behavior.
Videos
Watch Michael being interviewed on the RTE Late Late Show
Watch Michael on TV3 - The Morning Show
