Newsnight Review discussed The Lost Prince by Stephen Poliakoff.

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(Edited highlights of the panel's review)

WILL SELF:
He wants to develop the idea that the boy, The Lost Prince, is either autistic or in some way kind of reflects the autism, if you like, of the British Royal house. He also wants to use the child and the child's reclusion as a kind of lens through which to view this panorama of history. I think it's beautifully made. Beautifully shot by Barry Akroyd who shoots for Ken Loach. The music is marvellous, but for me it didn't work. I felt it was sentimental. It ended up being a sentimental piece.

WARK:
Gina McKee, the central character of Lalla, who is part mother figure, I feel he doesn't develop her character at all. There is no idea what she is thinking. She has no self at all.

JEANETTE WINTERSON:
I think it is because she is not allowed any sexuality. She is supposed to be a maternal figure. But for me I could not understand her tenderness. I was not following the journey of this boy.

TOM PAULIN:
It works. It's slow to begin with, then in the second episode, half way through, it absolutely took off. I think it's his best work. It's poignant, moving, beautifully filmed. It is almost mask-like visionary. What it represents, I think, is the British mixed feelings about the House of Windsor.

WINTERSON:
But you are right about it picking up half way through. The luxury of seeing two 90 minutes episodes, you get very excited but then you think he could have cut 30 - 40 minutes.

PAULIN:
But the ending is so powerful and moving. I am normally resistant to anything with big houses and royalism, but it works in the most marvellous way.