Film - The Duke

This is one of those so obviously archetypal British films that I would happily watch one of every month or so.

It ticks all the feel-good boxes, true story, people doing good, family, humour and love.

The story of Kempton Bunton - yes, this was from the era when people were called this. In the early 60s, Bunton stole a Goya painting from the National Gallery and held the government to ransom to force them to support older people more in retirement. Approaching retirement age himself, Bunton’s issue was with pensioners having to pay for the TV licence. There were many shenanigans around fooling the inspectors when they called. From my early childhood, I remember they used to do this. Hence I have always had a TV licence, even during short bouts of living in shared flats where duplication occurred.

It’s interesting, considering that subsidised TV licences are still on the agenda 50 years later, I’d happily pay more to ensure everyone had one. It’s worth every penny just for the radio I listen to all day.

You can’t help but love all the characters, from Bunton (Jim Broadbent) to his wife (Helen Mirren) and son, the lawyer, the family Mrs Bunton cleans for et al. The only bad character is the wayward son and his interfering girlfriend but there had to be some.

The Duke is an utterly charming film.

8/10