Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Firebrand presents itself primarily as a waiting game, with Katherine striving to conceal her schemes until Henry’s demise. As the king’s fury dims under the flickering firelight, the historical revisionism becomes pronounced. While the film’s final moments may resonate on a visceral level, they feel unearned in narrative terms. Overall, it earns a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5.
Plot Summary
Alicia Vikander portrays Katherine Parr, reluctantly accepting the role of King Henry VIII’s (Jude Law) spouse. Her decision carries significant personal risk, perceived as a threat by Henry’s courtiers who increasingly question her loyalty. Katherine finds herself embroiled in a fight for survival amidst a court that grows more paranoid by the day.
Review
Directed by Karim Aïnouz, the film adapts Elizabeth Fremantle’s novel, “The Queen’s Gambit,” set in the turbulent Tudor era.
In blood-soaked Tudor England, Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII, assumes a regent-like role while Henry is engaged in military campaigns in France. Seizing the opportunity, Katherine retreats to a secluded forest for clandestine meetings with Anne Askew (Erin Doherty), a childhood friend turned preacher of rebellion against the king’s new laws.
Risking personal safety, Katherine supports Anne’s heretical cause by giving her a precious necklace from Henry himself. Katherine pushes for a new future grounded in radical Protestant beliefs. However, when the ailing and paranoid King returns, his wrath turns against the radicals, leading to Anne’s tragic execution for treason.
Facing conspiracies within the palace, Katherine navigates perilously, challenged by Bishop Stephen Gardiner (Simon Russell Beale) and the ever-looming threat of Henry’s wrath. As hope for a liberated future clashes with the reality of tyranny, Katherine must decide whether to endure the inevitable for the sake of stability.
Jude Law delivers a captivating performance, stealing scenes with his portrayal of the tyrannical Henry. The film’s production and costume design, helmed by Helen Scott and Michael O’Connor respectively, are exemplary, capturing the opulence of the high-born alongside the austerity of the radicals. For enthusiasts of historical drama brimming with intrigue and vitality, “Firebrand” warrants attention.
Set against the backdrop of Whitehall Palace in 1547, the film immerses viewers in a lavishly recreated Tudor world, blending fabric and fiction with a screenplay that balances historical fidelity with creative license.
