For those who are unfamiliar with W.E., it stands for Wallis Simpson and King Edward VII, whose fervent romance and undying love for each other caused a stir amongst the royal family and forced Edward to abdicate to be with the love of his life and live in exile. It is interesting to note that when he abdicated, his stuttering brother Bernie took over his position and his story is told in The King's Speech; it is interesting how Madonna has integrated this into W.E., with Bernie timidly watching Edward deliver his historical abdication speech.
Although W.E. is steeped in history, the film is a fictional fantasy that captures the essence of a great romance and the significance of the power of love, and the consequences of its reckless passion.
The brilliance of the film is not only found in Madonna's passionate indulgence as a filmmaker of note, but also in the ingenious nature of a unique story that seamlessly blends historical fact with a fantastic fictional reality.
The soul of the film is inhabited by the extraordinary and enduring romance between Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough), the chic, charismatic American who captured the heart of King Edward VII (James D'Arcy) and the heart of the story belongs to Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish), a transplanted Southerner trapped in an unhappy and abusive marriage.
Transfixed by the exquisite artefacts of the Windsors' lives at an antique auction, Wally becomes obsessed with the love story of W and E (Wallis and Edward) and as she learns more about the sacrifices that Wallis made in choosing to be with Edward, Wally finds the courage to follow her own heart and create her own happiness.
Both storylines offer an unforgettable romance that perfectly captures the passion, pain and torment of emotional and physical abuse that bleed out of unfortunate circumstances.
Just as Wallis lost her heart to Edward, so does Wally find her knight in shining armour in the shape of a security guard who works at the auction (Oscar Isaac), her guardian angel who shields her from an abusive relationship with her husband (Richard Coyle).
Madonna competently uses the aptitude of visual dynamics to enhance her narrative with historical footage to boost the surreal fusion of realism and fantasy; it is the contrast of these three different lines of dramatic action that makes it an exceptional work of artistic expression.
Madonna is a talented filmmaker, whose vision is supported by her own personal experiences and her trust in her co-screenwriter, Alek Keshishian, who is best known as the director of the 1991 film Madonna: Truth or Dare, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival and was for a period the highest grossing documentary of all time.
An interesting aspect of the film is the similarities and striking resemblance between Wally and Wallis in W.E. and Madonna in the film Evita. It is also interesting how Madonna's views on relationships and marriage, the physical and emotional abuse of women, and the power struggle between men and women are woven into the fabric of the story.
The teaming of Madonna and Keshishian is truly a match made in heaven; their understanding of telling a story truthfully through the medium of film and how to manipulate the truth through a fictional prism results in a powerfully visceral cinematic experience.
It is further amplified by a magnificent music score by Polish composer Abel Korzeniowski, whose style reflects the haunting refrains of Phillip Glass' compositions.
It is not always easy to understand the differences that separate royalty and celebrities from everyday people; W.E. cheekily and mischievously explores the impact of these different worlds, but also shows the brutal and harsh result of its pitiless prison.
There is nothing about W.E. that can diminish its power and impact; as a story and as a film the passion, sincerity and inventiveness will leave a lasting impression and result in an emotional and thought-provoking cinematic experience.
You don't have to know the history of the story that inspired W.E., you only have to understand the language of love to appreciate its magnificence.
It is one of those inimitable love stories that transcends the ordinary and offers a unique journey into a world that reflects the human condition and how important it is to have mutual respect and compassion.
Love is a sentiment and deed that is tricky to confine and fully comprehend; W.E. respectfully illuminates the importance of love and how its power feeds our existence and, ultimately, reveals out true nature.
Whether you are a diehard cynic or hopeless romantic, make sure you see W.E. and you are guaranteed to leave with a new understanding of why the differences that separate are an important stepping stone in the journey of life.
Rating 5/5
Fascinated by this woman and this powerful love story, Madonna spent two years writing her script, and although W.E. is, in part, a fictionalised story, she also spent this time heavily researching the project. She devoured every book published on Wallis and Edward, watched every documentary and broadcast available, and interviewed countless people who knew Wallis and Edward.
During her research, two elements became particularly important. Wallis and Edward wrote to each other constantly throughout their relationship, sometimes even when staying in the same house. These letters are used throughout the film and even provide the title W.E. due to the way they would sign off their letters with their initials: "I found the letters very insightful because I think people reveal a lot about themselves in a letter. Things you don't get from a book - the way they speak to each other, the nicknames they gave each other," said Madonna.
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