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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Spencer

In theaters starting November 4

The new Princess Diana biopic, Spencer, is set during the last Christmas the Princess of Wales could claim a royal title. Unfolding over an unbearable three-day holiday gathering at the Queen’s Norfolk estate, Di (played by Kristen Stewart) is bulimic, paranoid, and very unhappy in her marriage to Prince Charles. The weekend—which includes a weigh-in ritual to assess how many pounds each royal has packed on, and warnings to the staff that the royal family is always listening—ends with the ending of a marriage. Written by Steven Knight (the co-creator of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) and directed by Pablo Larraín (Jackie), the film’s exaggerated colors, costumes, and conversations turn a weekend in Princess Diana’s “fairy tale” life into an elegant nightmare. —J.D.

Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in “Spencer.” Photo courtesy of FilmNation Entertainment.