The Princess: A New Lens on Diana’s Life
Oscar‑nominated director Ed Perkins sifted through hundreds of hours of footage to unearth fresh ways of looking at Princess Diana, 25 years after the royal’s tragic death. He promised a movie that doesn’t rely on the usual interview‑driven style but instead lets archival footage do all the talking.
What The Film Is About
Perkins’ self‑titled documentary follows Diana from a shy teenager to the moment she was taken from the world on August 31, 1997. The film showcases unseen clips of the nation’s mourning, turning film into a time machine that pulls viewers back into the collective memory.
Perkins’ Own Connection
- He lost his 11th birthday celebrations to the global grief over Diana’s death.
- Now he wants audiences to rethink how they engaged with the princess—whether they were bystanders or accidental accomplices.
Perkins’ previous work, Black Sheep (2019), earned him an Oscar nod—now he applies the same depth to the Diana story, hoping to stir emotions rather than just inform.
Why This Film Matters
- Unexplored angle: how Diana reflects on our own lives.
- He invites viewers to stay “in the present tense,” lingering on the archive to rekindle past feelings.
- No interviews—just raw, nostalgic footage that keeps the story alive.
Picture This
Imagine walking through the vaulted halls of a grand ballroom, hearing a girl’s nervous laugh, and hearing the roar of a crowd just ten years later. Perkins offers all that and then takes you again to the moment the Parisian tunnel swallowed the limousine—no dramatic voice‑over, only the raw rush of real life.
Release Details
Set for a staged theatrical run across Britain, The Princess debuts on June 30. Fans will again see a princess they knew but never quite felt as fully as they do in the new moments disclosed on the screen.
Takeaway
By letting the archives speak for themselves, Ed Perkins crafts a cinematic experience that makes audiences reflect: “What part did I play in this story?” He believes the film will challenge us all to acknowledge how reality and expectation collided in Diana’s life.
