Sep 19, 2013, Giles Hardie, smh
A host of Australian faces walked a royal blue carpet at the Australian premiere of Oliver Hirschbiegel's Diana on Thursday night for an evening to raise funds for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute which Diana Princess of Wales opened in 1996.
The film, starring Australia's Naomi Watts, who was born in the United Kingdom, arrived on the back of mostly negative reviews from the UK critics, yet those in attendance were all eager to see the portrayal of the final two years of Diana Spencer's life, focusing on her relationship with Dr Hasnat Khan.
Khan was in fact trained by Dr Chang, hence Diana's attendance in Sydney of a fundraising function for his work in 1996, an event which is itself portrayed in the film.
After the screening guests attended a post-screening garden party at David Jones where memorabilia, including an oil portrait and photos of Diana were on display.
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Inside large portraits of Naomi Watts as Diana Spencer - including a replicate of the famous Mario Testino shot - adorned the room as guests played croquet on a temporary course.
The response to the film from those in the room focused on the actors and particularly the lead.
Mandy McElhinney who has played a number of characters drawn from real life was quick to praise Watts' performance in the title role.
"I thought Naomi was incredible," she said. "I was so impressed with her."
5 comments:
Latest reviews are more positive in general.
Anyway, they are against the film and the script, not her performance.
These people just want to monopolize the late Princess as their own and hate any other people to have anything to do with her. Selfishness.
Love the comment.
The latest reviews are mostly praising her performance though the film itself is not getting much credit.
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