16/11/2009

British director Tom Hooper (The Damned United [+see also:
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The film looks at the relationship between King George VI (Colin Firth), who suffered from a stammering condition and his unconventional speech therapist, the Austrian Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). It is set against the backdrop of the dramatic abdication of the King’s brother Edward in the lead up to World War II.

Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, the King is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country into war. The cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Jennifer Ehle, Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall and Michael Gambon.

The film is a The Weinstein Company (TWC) and UK Film Council presentation in association with Momentum Pictures, Aegis Film Fund, Molinare London, and See-Saw Films/Bedlam Productions. The film is being produced by See-Saw’s Iain Canning (Control [+see also:
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interview: Laura Hastings-Smith Rob…
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film profile]) and Emile Sherman (Candy, Rabbit Proof Fence) and Bedlam’s Gareth Unwin (Exam). TWC and Film Nation are handling international sales with UK rights acquired by Momentum.

David Glasser, TWC’s president of international distribution, said, “The King’s Speech is a powerful story about a remarkable time in history.”

Canning, Sherman and Unwin said in a statement: “Given Harvey Weinstein’s successes such as Shakespeare in Love and more recently with The Reader [+see also:
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film profile], we are excited to be collaborating with TWC on The King’s Speech.”