The official trailer of Spencer (2021) was released on 23rd September 2021. Starring Kristen Stewart as Lady Diana, the trailer is 2 minutes 17 seconds long. The title of this much-awaited biographical drama is based on the late Princess of Wales’ maiden name, Diana Spencer. The 1 hour 51 minutes will release on 5th November 2021. Pablo Larraín has directed and Steven Knight has penned it. Claire Mathon is the cinematographer and the music is by Jonny Greenwood. The film had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on 3 September 2021.
The plot of this movie is based on Lady Diana’s decision in 1991 of ending her marriage with Prince Charles (Jack Farthing) and leaving the royal family of Great Britain. She came to this conclusion while staying with the royal family at Sandringham House during their Christmas holiday. Her marriage was going through a troubled phase for a long time. And there were rumors of extramarital affairs and a possible divorce. However, since it was the time of Christmas celebrations at Queen Elizabeth II’s Estate in Sandringham, peace was maintained. Spencer is a portrayal of how Diana survived those days and her struggles to adjust to the rigid expectations British monarchy. This film takes some artistic liberties. For instance, it tries to re-imagine the possible events that probably took place during that crucial holiday span in 1991.
In the trailer, Kristen Stewart resembles the aura of Princess Diana closely, starting from her grand outfits, hairstyle, and also the royal family’s accent. Spencer portrays Diana’s sad, conflicted, claustrophobic truth of life, amidst the glitter and glamorous royal lifestyle filled with relentless scrutiny. The background score adds to a feeling of tension, nervousness, and turmoil.
Analysis of the Trailer (Spencer 2021)
The opening scenes show a palace and some corgis, which straight away indicates the presence of British royalty. Everyone has already arrived at the palace. Princess Diana, however, is late. She assures herself that, “Three days, that’s it.,” probably hinting at the days left before her imminent separation. Her uneasiness with her in-laws is clearly evident in the entire trailer. On the contrary, she has a very special bond with her sons. Also, she’s been told that the royal family is getting serious about her, so she should present herself as calm and jovial.
The dinner table scene reveals a tension between the Queen, Lady Diana, and Prince Charles. It’s Christmas. Diana says, “Well here in this house, there’s no future. Past and the present are the same things”, which speaks for the fact that her mindset and values are not in sync with that of the royal family. After the family photo scene, someone is asking Diana to change herself, since the royal family is very rigid. Princes Charles asks her to do things that she hates. In the trailer, Diana is looking beautiful wearing those dazzled gowns and dapper suits. However, she is clearly suffocating. Social obligations and being accosted by brutal paparazzi are making her emotionally exhausted.
Diana is one who likes simple, ordinary, and real things.
She is running with her sons and dancing around. In the trailer, she ends by saying that, “There’s no hope for me…not with them”. She is getting encouragement to fight, as she is her own weapon. There are scenes from her wedding as well. Those clips which show her tearing a necklace, and several scenes of her running, express her desire of breaking away from all the royal barriers and freeing herself.
Conclusion
Spencer has already garnered considerable critical appreciation, and Ms. Stewart has received particular acclaim for her performance and appearance. She did an outstanding job of expressing Diana’s pain and struggles through her facial expressions. Her eyes reflect Diana’s helplessness and fear for her own life which is tragic for someone so free-willed and independent. At that point in time, she was also struggling with the news of Prince Charles’s affairs. The trailer shows how Diana is battling with her two sides, one which is her original self, and the other which she portrays in front of the world and the press.
Some other important cast members are Jack Nielen as Prince William, Freddie Spry as Prince Harry, Stella Gonet as Queen Elizabeth II, Richard Sammel as Prince Philip, Olga Hellsing as Sarah, Duchess of York, Thomas Douglas as John Spencer, Mathias Wolkowski as Prince Edward, Niklas Kohrt as Prince Andrew, and Elizabeth Berrington as Anne, Princess Royal.
The trailer portrays how Diana fights the oppressive weight of tradition, as she is not sure how to maintain her public image during her rocky marriage with Prince Charles. Thus, this film would be an interesting watch to see how Kristen Stewart nails the figure of Lady Diana, and how Pablo Larraín manages to uphold the events surrounding Diana’s divorce.
