THE LOST KING

After meeting up with fellow "Ricardians" at the Richard Society (Edinburgh Branch), Philippa's determination results in her stopping to go to work, much to the concern of her friends and ex-husband John (Steve Coogan, 'Stan & Ollie', 'The Trip'). However, she will not be deterred. Through hallucinations of Richard (Harry Lloyd, 'The Theory of Everything') and her newfound purpose, Philippa will stop at nothing to ensure history is rewritten and those that are unfairly judged are given their fair dues. Two lost souls, helping each other find themselves.

Hawkins plays Philippa with a profound strength, but couples it with a timid vulnerability audiences have become so accustomed to seeing her portray. This is no insult, and I cannot imagine anyone playing Philippa with the same apprehensive resoluteness. In lesser hands, Philippa could so easily have been a plucky and frankly annoying thorn in your side, but Hawkins simply doesn't allow the character to stray that way by bringing the audience on her side.

Frears is no stranger to portraying real-life stories on the screen, and he once again teams with writers Coogan and Jeff Pope. This is the first time they have written together since 'Philomena', which shares strong DNA with 'The Lost King'. Coogan also plays Philippa's ex-husband John, who is so remarkably supportive he almost doesn't seem real - which I am purposefully choosing not to research. He doesn't appear much in the film, but really makes his time count while allowing Philippa the screen time and podium that she deserves.

And she needs it. Battling red tape, bureaucracy, sexism, illness and detractors, the community and family support she receives is truly uplifting, and it forms the heart of the film. Without the community spirit of her society and family, 'The Lost King' would probably feel more like a C-grade 'National Treasure'. Frears has somehow made Leicester University to be some kind of evil corporation, and I'm unsure where to split fact from fiction with this one, but this is the closest the film ever really gets to an antagonist. It's not really a problem however, because the real demons Philippa faces are within herself - often shown through the conversations in her head with Richard. If King Richard was anything like how Lloyd portrays him, well, he seems really lovely and charming.

If you had to picture a three-star British film perfect for a Sunday afternoon at the cinema, then this is it. It's delightfully agreeable and pleasant to sit through, with enough comedy to keep you entertained, and enough adventure to keep you interested. The lessons of judging those unfairly and proving oneself are front and centre and rarely subtle, but it matters little. This is a story that had worldwide attention in 2012, but the personal story of Philippa, the main driver of the search, was barely covered. In 'The Lost King', not only does Philippa get to tell her story, but it is a story that many of us can be inspired by.