A Royal Tragedy that is Spencer

by Kathia Woods

Princess Diana was one of the most written about and stocked women on the planet. A fairytale gone awry. The woman who brought down the House of Windsor but rose to become a global darling. Fortunately, we have interviews with her in which she tells us about her life and experiences. So, why is Pablo Larrain compelled to take more meat from the remaining caucus? It's as if he's obsessed with preventing these women from resting in peace. ( He directed Jackie) There's also the fact that the monarchy is currently embroiled in yet another public relations scandal while Spencer is being offered to the general public.

Spencer recounts Princess Diana's perilous Christmas vacation at Sandringham in 1991. She has fallen out of favor with her majesty, but she is still expected to perform her duties as a member of the Royals.

Kristen Stewart, who isn't English by birth and hasn't grown up with any of the Royals' pomp, is playing Diana. Stewart was only seven years old when Diana died, so she was not fully aware of her impact on the world at the time.

Kristen portrays Her Royal Highness as paranoid and filled with anxiety. Making her appear traumatized by anything, including her own shadow. She may resemble Diana, but her accent is strange. Diana had never spoken in such a slow, whispery tone before. She did tilt her head from time to time, but she didn't hold that position indefinitely. For those who have never seen Diana in person, this is an unusual way to introduce her to a younger audience.

A large portion of this story is based on creative licensing. Writer Steven Knight created a fantasy world filled with psychological terror and predicting tragedy, which is problematic because no one predicted she would die so tragically. To say he created a fantasy world is an understatement.

Spencer's other flaw is its slow pace, which does not help the film at all. It makes it difficult. We understand she felt isolated, but we don't need two hours of this with constant head tilts that don't help the story move forward.

Diana's independence is emphasized throughout the film, from her changing outfits to her arrival after the queen. We already knew Diana felt the Royal family was out of touch and out of date with the general public, so we aren't being exposed to anything helpful. We also were aware that she no longer felt the need to belong in a family that never showed her love.

One is left wondering, "Who is this film for?" If this is for a new generation, there are biographies and her famous interview with Martin Bashir in which she discusses her life with the Royal Family in greater detail that are way more informative.

Spencer, in the end, is a tragedy set to music, with an overrated accent that adds nothing to the Diana debate. It's past time to lay the dead to rest.