Los Angeles, California - Pablo Larrain's imaginative drama Spencer revolves around three fateful days in 1991 for Britain's royal family. Kristen Stewart sparkles as Princess Diana on the verge of a breakdown, sparking buzz that her leading role could take home a Golden Globe this weekend.

Spencer was released in theaters in November, and since the movie dropped its haunting trailer, fans have highly anticipated the former vampire-chaser's starring turn as the world's most famous modern princess.

While Spencer may be a film about Christmas, it is in no way a Christmas film.

We visit Sandringham House, the Queen's country residence, for a tortured weekend as Princess Diana, suffering severe psychological strain, battles with the constraints of her life, her marriage to Prince Charles long in tatters.

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Stewart's resemblance to the princess is striking, from how she sounds to the way she walks, and how she tilts her head to the side in uncertainty.

The plot, however, is less true to the original events.

"It's a fable from a true tragedy," the film tells viewers at the start.

Director Larrain, who took a similar approach in Jackie in 2016, paired with screenwriter Steven Knight to give us a Diana who is on the verge of collapse.

Every photo shoot becomes a drama, for her, while the Queen's country residence becomes a prison with even the curtains sewn shut. So that no one can see in.

Or perhaps, out.

The seasonal festivities make everything worse, with a tight schedule and dress code that denies Diana any individuality. Diana, meanwhile, flees to the bathroom to throw up in between courses.

But even as Diana hangs over the toilet bowl, her gorgeous dress covers the whole of the bathroom floor, and Stewart remains as captivating as ever.

Paired with Stewart's powerhouse performance, the film's powerful soundtrack underlines the mood, with a sombre cello at Christmas dinner, contrasting with wild free jazz that underlines Diana's troubled, energetic personality.

The oppressive weekend of Christmas 1991 is at times hard to watch, if not draining - but it is better than Oliver Hirschbiegel's kitschy romantic drama Diana from 2013 starring Naomi Watts.

Spencer is also tougher going than The Crown, the Netflix series with an altogether more dynamic, narrative style.

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The movie's metaphors and allusions are a poetic, heavily dramatized, and exaggerated arthouse version of events.

We may never know whether Diana really cursed as much within the walls of the palace, or had dreams of masturbation, as director Larrain so poignantly touches upon in the flick.

Either way, Stewart's acting is the real highlight of Spencer.

It would come as no surprise if Stewart, after her nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Golden Globes, wins not only this weekend, but some Oscar gold as well.