Friday, March 31, 2023

King Richard III - "Ghostly Grace"

 I'm not sure if anyone read any of the replies to the comments in my last post but Richard and I DID go and see the film, "The Lost King"!

You know of course that we enjoyed it! Nothing flashy about this film, it is an extraordinary story told in a typical British fashion, understated but with respect. No car chases here!

You will never guess...we were the only ones in the entire theater for this showing! Yes, just the two of us! It was nice really, since it is mainly dialogue and you know how it is...there is someone always talking, coughing or trying to pretend they are not on their cell phones! Also, it amused me that along with Richard III, there were TWO other characters in the film named "Richard". Why did this tickle me? I was sitting beside another Englishman named "Richard"!  

If you haven't looked up the story behind Richard III being found in a carpark, then please do so now! Also, I did so want to link you to a well written article about Leicester Cathedral where Richard III was interred in 2015.  I found it!  You may find it just here.  It is a post written by Mike Biles from "A Bit About Britain".  He has a great blog and he has published books also, so check him out! 

One of the books that I have ordered is "The Last Days of Richard III" and it is written by John Ashdown-Hill, a brilliant author and historian who sadly passed away in 2018.  (He was most kind and helpful to Philippa Langley and this is portrayed in the film.) I had a link to the blog post that I wrote in 2013 where I mentioned how they tracked down the descendants with DNA.  That's what this book is about!

Michael Ibsen is a cabinet maker based in London. (Born in Canada, he now lives in England.) He is the man who was discovered to have the same DNA as Richard III and he is his nephew, 16 times removed.  The reburial of Richard III was at Leicester Cathedral.  I found it moving to learn that he was buried in a coffin make from English oak made by...Michael Ibsen! (Remember I just told you he was a cabinet maker?) 

The film showed the service from Leicester Cathedral of the burial of King Richard III (not the entire service, of course) and it is cleverly cut with scenes of the actors. One of those in attendance was a woman with long, blonde hair and we wondered why the camera lingered on her for a moment.  We later learned that was Philippa Langley herself!   (Note to self: spelling of her name is with one L and two P's. I just cannot remember how to spell her name!)

The actress who portrayed Ms. Langley is Sally Hawkins and she is brilliant as she always is in any film! I noticed that she wore small white earrings and then, I realized that they were white roses!

 War of the Roses, look it up! 


There was a song sung by the choir at Leicester Cathedral...I did a little research and I think it is "Ghostly Grace" by Judith Bingham.  I can't seem to find a video of it but I found a video of the procession to the cathedral, and I found it moving, so here it is....







I don't have a photo of Leicester Cathedral but I do have a picture of St. Bartholomew the Great in London. It is a very old church, the columns are the oldest, they are Norman. If you zoom in, you will see a ghostly figure...that would be me!!

P.S.  Please look at comment from Debra at She Who Seeks... she has links to not one but TWO posts that she did about Richard III's reburial in 2015.  (And I did know about Benedict Cumberbatch being a descendant and that he read at the service but I forgot to mention it in my post, Debra! Thanks very much for the links to your blog, my friend. Those funny signs!!)

22 comments:

  1. This is such a fabulous detective story! It's a pity there weren't more people at the cinema, but I guess it seems irrelevant to many people. We'd probably get the same reaction to a film about Abraham Lincoln - though I rather hope we wouldn't! Well, following our exchange on Instagram (not sure I'm used to that yet) I just had to look you up and was very happily surprised to discovered you have given me a very kind plug - thank you! For some reason many of my old blogger friends don't make it through the feeds I subscribe to (Bloglovin seems to have stopped working). I'm also very bad at visiting websites/blogs and leaving comments - not enough hours in the day, are there? Hope you and yours are keeping fit and well :-)

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    1. I really meant to tell you about this post where I mentioned you but as you say, there are never enough hours in the day! I did very much like your post about RIchard III and I see that I left a comment back when you first posted it and now,you have a newer comment on there from me! HA HA, if only I could remember things, my life would be so much better....
      It was actually nice to be alone at the movie theater, if only I could arrange it every time! Take care, Mike and keep giving us "bits about Britain!"

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  2. Glad you enjoyed the film! I like Sally Hawkins in the couple of movies I've seen her in, so another reason to look forward to the movie. I didn't know that Michael Ibsen has now moved from Canada to Britain.

    I thought you might like to read the two posts I did on Richard III when he was discovered and reburied. Here's the links:

    https://shewhoseeks.blogspot.com/2015/04/king-richard-iii-part-first.html

    https://shewhoseeks.blogspot.com/2015/04/king-richard-iii-part-second.html

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    1. Oh my goodness, thanks so much for sending the links to your blog! I went back and added a postscript to my blog and told folks to look at those posts! (Does anyone still do "P.S." anymore, I'm old!!) Imagine you taking that stance of Richard III being a good guy when you were just in the 9th grade! Well done, you! I love the photos of the signs from the car park and the Mr. Bean references, all so funny! Thanks again!!

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  3. I remember Mike‘s post about it, and also having read/heard about it all on other sources.
    My sister and I visited Richmond Castle in Richmond, Yorkshire, some years ago with my favourite uncle & aunt, and it is said that the castle was Richard‘s favourite residence, his childhood home.
    To be the only people at the cinema is weird, but nice - you can lean back and pretend the showing is just for you (which it is, in a way), as if you were fabulously rich people with your own theatre on your estate 😊

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    1. Ah, Yorkshire...I only know it from reading your blog!!
      It was really something to be the only ones at the theater or "show" as we used to call it when I was a kid. You know Elvis used to see movies that way, buy all the tickets so he only he and his close buddies could see a film. Richard and I did not buy all the tickets! LOL!

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  4. Such an interesting read! Thank you for the review!
    hugs
    Donna

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    1. I am the worst to review a film or book, I just want to say watch it or read it! But thanks anyway, I hope you are able to see the film! Be sure and read the links to Debra's blog and also to Mike's blog!

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  5. I enjoyed learning - I want to see the movie, but in the middle of packing so it was good to read the story!

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    1. Come back later when you have more time and read all about it, and look further into it with other sources!

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  6. So interesting. The whole story of finding his remains in that parking lot was amazing all by itself.

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    1. You know, it truly was! The film is understated but then, that's the Brits for you!

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  7. I'm looking forward to seeing that movie.

    Love,
    Janie

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  8. My Brother-In-Law and I were discussing the kings this evening, and how some of them have a not-very-nice reputation. As I pointed out, it often depends on whose side of the story you listen to, because as there are three sides to every domestic dispute, his side, her side, and the truth, it's the same with anything else.

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    1. "Truth alone is the daughter of time" is a quote from DaVinci. The book by Josephine Tey is "The Daughter of Time" and is one of the books that I have ordered! This book which was the last book that she ever wrote (in 1951) is about the investigation of a police officer's investigation into the alleged crimes of Richard III.

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  9. St Barts is indeed a great church, one of the few true Norman churches standing.

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    1. I was thrilled the first time I saw it. A church that inspires awe.

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  10. My husband and I saw this film and couldn’t help smiling that the girl came good, even if the academics shut her out. A real feel good movie. I’ll check the links out. The cinema we visited was mostly empty too, such a shame. I hope Richard III is now at peace as suggested in the storyline.

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    1. So glad you liked the film too! I'm a huge fan of non fiction books. True stories about real people are the best for me. Thanks for your comment!

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  11. I watched this movie on my flight home from Portugal. I loved the story, great movie!

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    1. It was so good, wasn't it? Thanks for letting me know you saw it on the plane back home. Really loved your photos from Portugal!

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