2022 - THE LOST KING, the cutthroat world of archaeology

Another one of these based on a true story films.  Normally I am highly skeptical of these kinds of films but in this instance this actually appears to be true.

The story focuses on writer/reporter Philippa Langley who becomes interested in King Richard the III.  Shakespeare wrote an entire play about Richard the evil hunchback who attains power through manipulation and assassination.  The play even has Richard ordering the deaths of his nephews as they are a potential obstacle to his ascension to the throne.  The writer Philippa Langley played very well by Sally Hawkins decides to investigate Richard's life and eventually begins to suspect that instead of his body being thrown in the river after his death he is actually buried in a parking lot in Leicester, England.

Here's where the story gets interesting.  Langley manages to get help from the archeology department of  the University of Leicester and also the cooperation of the Leicester City Council to dig up the parking lot where the presumed body lies.  Amazingly the body is located but Langley's work on the project is essentially ignored to play down her involvement on the project by the University and the city council.

Well to put it mildly this film caused a real uproar in the archeology world with lots of finger pointing and counter accusations from everyone involved in the Richard The III project.  Understandably no one wants to be accused of freezing out a major player and a woman no less who helped to recover the body of the King of England.  You can spend a lot of time reading about this mess on the internet.  Who would have thought is was a dog eat dog situation in the world of archeology nerds. 

The film is well directed as usual by Stephen Frears.  Although I could have done without the fantasy elements which has Langley interacting with the ghost of Richard The III.  Steve Coogan the comedian and writer of the film along with Jeff Pope plays Philippa Langley's ex-husband.  This film has a lot in common with Coogan's Philomena the story of another woman who was seriously mistreated by the Catholic Church.

The running time is 108 minutes.