Jeri Jacquin

Currently in theatres from director Karim Ainouz, Vertical and Roadside Attractions is the story of one of the many lives of Henry the VIII with FIREBRAND.

Katherine Parr (Alicia Vikander) is an educated woman in Tudor England who has been married before. When King Henry VIII (Jude Law) takes her for his sixth wife, Parr is not completely happy about the union. Knowing his history in the death of previous wives, accepting comes with a personal risk. Yet there is something about Katherine that Henry trusts and his children Princess Elizabeth (Junia Rees) and Prince Edward (Patrick Buckley).

So much so that he appoints her Regent while he is away fighting knowing that it can cause her difficulties. It is almost immediately that men around the king spend their time watching her every move. This includes her friendship with Anne Askew (Erin Doherty), a childhood friend who believes, as Katherine does in the Protestant beliefs. Katherine pleads with her friend to leave the kingdom before harm comes to her but Anne is steadfast in her work to bring the people of England strength in numbers.

When the King returns, there are whisperings in his ear about Katherine’s steadfastness to the crown especially Stephen Gardiner (Simon Beale). He has a plot of his own to push past the King. When that doesn’t work the whisperings of infidelity begin and what is causing Henry to become muddled is the infection that is ravaging his body. When Katherine learns of the fate of Anne, she realizes that the men of the court are placing her life in the same fate as the five wives before her.

She does not want to be among them!

Vikander as Katherine is absolutely amazing in this role and her demeanor is everything! Katherine does not panic in any situation she is put to, a little momentary frazzle (which anyone would) but she does not fall apart. Instead, she becomes more steadfast in the belief that she knows her own mind. Vikander gives us a Katherine that does not cower to those who are attempting to ruin her in the eyes of the King, instead, Vikander straightens her crown and makes it clear she will take whatever is in front of her without losing any part of herself. That is perfection.

Law as Henry gives us a King that is full of himself and narcissistic one minute and a man who can not think for himself in others. Whispering in his ear are men who have no difficulty squashing any women who gets in their way. Having gotten their way with previous wives, Katherine is no push over and they are scrambling as Henry deals with his own personal and physical struggles. Law gives moments of pure Henry-nastiness and does it without skipping a beat.

Beale as Gardiner has been handling the King for quite some time so when he believes Katherine is trying to change the status quo, he goes after her. Making the King believe that Katherine is not a loyal wife, he does what he can to put her head on the chopping block, literally. Beale gives his character the “what a weasel” whisperings from me as I watched him be a charming character with another destructive face. Well done sir!

Rees as Prince Elizabeth makes it clear that Katherine is someone she looks up to and makes it clear to Henry that her fate doesn’t deserve what the men of the court are pushing for. Buckley as Prince Edward also makes his stance clear as his love for her is strong. Doherty as Askew may have a small role but it is of big importance. It becomes a catalyst for Katherine to hang on to who she truly is.

Shout out to Eddie Marsan as Edward Seymour as I just love everything that he does. He takes a role and makes it his own and makes it memorable.

Other cast include Ruby Bentall as Cat, Bryony Hannah as Ellen, Patsy Ferran as Princess Mary, Mina Andala as Jalinda, Paul Tinto as Stowe, Mia Threapleton as Joan Bocher, Ian Drysdale as Sir Anthony Denny, Edward Harrison as John Gates, Norman Bowman as Sir William Herbert, Jason Baughan as Will Sommers, Anna Mawn as Agnes Howard and Sam Riley as Thomas Seymour.

Roadside Attractions has, since 2003, grossed over $300M and garnered nineteen Academy Award nominations. They have had critical and commercial hits such as MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, BEN IS BACK, BEATRIZ AT DINNER, HELLO MY NAME IS DORIS, WINTER’S BONE and THE COVER as well as so many others. For more information of what Roadside Attractions has to offer please visit www.roadsideattractions.com.

FIREBRAND is a stunning film about Katherine Parr and the beginning of the end for Henry VIII. First of all, the cinematography is stellar from the beginning to end. The richness can be found in the costuming that is of the times with its heaviness and construction for the women – ironic, isn’t it? These two things are so important when telling a period piece such as this. For me, if you can win in these two areas then you’ve one me whole heartedly.

The story of Katherine Parr is one that has been brushed over before but with Vikander at the helm, it is a look at the strength of character in this young woman. Let’s be honest, most of us would run for the hills if a man who has off’d five other wives wanted us to be the sixth! The difference here is that Parr was a woman of substance and knew the risks. What is equally stellar is Parr’s steadfast in her beliefs about everything in her life and that makes for good storytelling.

In the end – Henry VIII had six wives and only one survived!

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