Spencer

The film strictly follows the conventions of the British Monarchy, which assumes everyone is straight and cisgender. There are no LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender identities in the story.

The story offers a sophisticated critique of gender hierarchies. It focuses on Diana’s struggle for autonomy against a patriarchal institution that demands a stifling performance of femininity.

The cast is almost entirely homogeneous, reflecting the specific historical setting. The film does not use color-blind casting, focusing instead on the insulated white, Anglo-Saxon royal class.

The film critiques Western institutions by showing the monarchy as a dehumanizing force. It prioritizes individual truth over the rigid, oppressive protocols of the established class system.

The narrative provides a nuanced portrayal of Diana’s mental health struggles. Her psychological breakdown is treated with ability to act, driving the film's surreal visual language rather than serving as a plot device.