Spencer (2021) review

Idiosyncratic - and unsettling - biopic of the late Diana Spencer (Kristen Stewart) as she spends a most uncomfortable Christmas (back in 1991) at the Sandringham House with Queen Elizabeth II (Stella Gonet), her "husband" Prince Charles (Jack Farthing) and her two sons, William (Jack Nielen) and Harry (Freddie Spry).  Chilean director Larraín makes it clear from the beginning whose side he's on - Di pointedly asks the Royal Head Chef, played by Sean Harris, "Will they kill me?" - and while the symbolism can get a little heavy at times (the dead bird on the road, vomiting pearls, the ghost of Anne Boleyn, the filthy jacket, the sewn up curtains, etc.) I do believe it serves a greater purpose of trying to show just how emotionally distraught she really was: imagine knowing the person you thought you loved was openly cheating on you and didn't care about you at all (and his entire family was on his side), the paparazzi/media won't leave you alone, you have to wear outfits pre-picked out for you (and criticized if you don't) and you're constantly being followed (in this case by Timothy Spall's "Equerry Major") and even your whispered conversations can be "overheard" and gossiped about.  The film holds most of these people (in my view, rightfully so) in deep contempt, but has sincere respect for her sons - I like to think of it as a Polanski-esque horror film with a (temporary) happy ending.