Roger Michell
The Duke
In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver, stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. It was the first (and remains the only) theft in the Gallery’s history. Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on the condition that the government invested more in care for the elderly - he had long campaigned for pensioners to receive free television. What happened next became the stuff of legend. Only 50 years later did the full story emerge: Kempton had spun a web of lies. The only truth was that he was a good man, determined to change the world and save his marriage. How and why he used the Duke to achieve that is a wonderfully uplifting tale.
It's with a heavy heart and great shock the news of Roger Michell's sudden passing has reached us. As a director, he laid the groundwork for a new, fresh kind of romantic comedy with 'Notting Hill' and he proved to be eclectic in his taste when he went on to direct beautiful, acclaimed films like 'The Mother' and 'My Cousin Rachel'. We were looking forward to welcoming him in Ghent in October - and beyond honored Michell would present his new film 'The Duke' to Belgian audiences. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
Image gallery
Credits
Roger Michell
George Fenton
Matthew Goode, Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent
Richard Bean, Clive Coleman
Mike Eley
Kristina Hetherington
Nicky Bentham
Neon Films
Paradiso Filmed Entertainment NV
More information
English
United Kingdom
2021
