Spencer and women's liberation

Spencer (2021) directed by Pablo Larraín and written by Steven Knight, cinematography by Claire Mathon, music composed by the genius Jonny Greenwood, starring Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall, Sally Hawkins, Sean Harris, Amy Manson, Jack Farthing, Stella Gonet.

I watched Spencer on the 25th of November: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. I guess that's why I feel such a strong need to talk about it in this way.

Why analyse Spencer in the feminist lens? Well, first of all, cause it tells the story of a woman, from a woman's point of view. Sure, it’s written by a man, and directed by another man, but who says men can’t be feminists. Or even if they aren't... art interpretation is an open minefield, and it is up for the taking.

Pablo Larraín chose to tell the story of Diana after telling Jackie Kennedy’s a few years back. Both women, both in positions of power - supposedly -, both felt trapped, put in a cage by men, or by the patriarchal society which advantages - and listens to - white straight men and them only - or the women that perfectly fit their mold. Both tried to take charge of their lives. Both, in a way, failed.

It is not about women being free, that's fantasy. It's about the cage they can't seem to get out of. A cage of violence, normalised by a system that feeds on it, deriving its privilege from those whom it leaves behind.

But let's talk about Spencer.

First of all. I vividly remember this one Kristen interview from a while back. It was one of those black and white “screentests” from W magazine. And she talked about Gena Rowlands’ performance in A Woman Under The Influence. That was the first time I heard of that movie and ever since then it sort of stuck with me, until I finally watched it last year (exactly around November too). She said that as an actress that performance was a huge inspiration for her : “it was one of those performances that [...] you see a lot of men do. It was a tough character that wasn’t easy to love until the end and that’s not common for a starring role [...] it’s always something that’s a little bit easier and more obvious to relate to”. I guess this speaks for itself, women roles are much less interesting, much less layered and deep and I think with Spencer she finally got what she craved for.

I feel like this is one of those full circle moments. She got the role of a real woman. Not a one dimensional pleasing polished version. But a raw, brutal, messy, unhinged, discomforting, ambiguous, REAL, one. A breathing, living, crying, vomiting, running, dancing, human being. And it is so good to watch!

This film is not about the truth. It’s not about the restitution of a better image of Diana. It’s not about her as a princess or in the public eye. It’s about the haunted soul of a very complex woman. The royal family is a mirror of the entire society.

At its core, Spencer is about being a woman, under the pressure of society, it’s about being a mother, a wife, and not only that. Wanting for more, desiring, in a world that does not allow you to. I think in Diana’s case all of this is made more explicit and clear by the fact she's literally been locked in a castle, but it’s a condition that very many women know too well.

Spencer is Diana's surname before becoming Princess of Wales, it is her name as a free woman.

I think the inner psychological aspect of the story has been very very well represented. The way her mind works, the little things that feel so much bigger, it's devastating and claustrophobic, it feels real. All that she's left with is her clothes she can't choose, the curtains she can't open, the food she can't eat. She's held captive in a prison with very polite guards and good food and big cells.

Kristen did a wonderful job, and so did the camera and the music. The pastel colours representing such darkness is a great detail to trick the viewer into thinking this is a story with a happy ending.

I like that we are left to wish for a better future for Diana and her kids. I like that it’s bittersweet - cause in real life a woman rarely gets away.

Spencer is a good metaphor to talk about the patriarchal power dynamic that does not want women to thrive, but just to be compliant, agreeable, and silent. The condition women live in is one of imprisonment. I applaud everyone who dares to rebel, and send my love to all those who don’t have the privilege to. No woman will be free, until every woman will.

Thank you, Spencer.