Inspired by an evening watching Shakespeare’s Richard III, Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins) begins an almost obsessive interest in who he was and where he was laid to rest. Fighting against established historians unprepared to listen to an amateur she is able to find the remains of a king that were buried over five-hundred years earlier. 

The Lost King had many elements that I expected would result in an interesting and entertaining film. Starring the always brilliant Sally Hawkins, co-written and co-starring the hilarious Steve Coogan and directed by the very capable Stephen Frears it has an array of talent behind it. The subject matter, based on a true story is one that is also quite fantastical and unique to say the least. Unfortunately though I found the whole affair perfunctory at best and I suspect I will have forgotten all about it in a much shorter space of time than it took the real Philippa to find Richard. 

The hook used to try and get us to connect with our characters is that Philippa, who suffers from ME feels a connection with Richard as they were both mistreated as a result of their physical disability. Philippa sees and speaks to an apparition of Richard whilst searching for him and it is this aspect of the film that is easily the most interesting solely due to Harry Lloyd’s striking performance as Richard. 

Otherwise the rest of the story barely stands up as passably entertaining and is actually rather dull. I would suggest catching this when it arrives on the television.