FIREBRAND

UK, 2023, 121 minutes, Colour.

Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Simon Russell Beale, Eddie Marsan, Sam Riley, Erin Doherty, Junia Rees, Patsy Ferran.

Directed by Karim Ainouz.

There is always something interesting and arresting in any story about Henry VIII. And, this is the case here, Henry VIII at the end of his life, returning from battles, throwing his (heavy) weight around, acting on whims, up and down relationship with his wife, Katherine Parr, and caught up in political machinations, especially with the Seymours, the brothers of his late wife, Jane Seymour, uncles of his heir, the boy to be Edward VI. And, there are ecclesiastical intrigues, strong-minded promoters of Protestant theology, ambiguous Catholic prelates like Stephen Gardiner, and, especially the death of Henry VIII.

While this film is supposed to be a history of Katherine Parr, it is a fiction based on a successful series of novels by Elizabeth Fremantle. At this point, it is worth recommending another series of novels, those of the barrister, Matthew Shardlake, long but engrossing books by C.J.Sansom bringing this period vividly to life.

There is a difficulty with the title here, Firebrand. This is not exactly firebrand storytelling. There are some sparks but, rather, this is a somewhat dark and claustrophobic story, mainly confined within the palace. Nevertheless, it reminds us that Katherine Parr was a strong woman even if in the various stories of Henry VIII, she comes at the end of his succession of six wives. And she survived him (though, with a touch of fiction, Henry VIII in this film does not survive her.)

Katherine Parr is played by Alicia Vikander, an intelligent woman, a writer, collector of prayers, committed to the Protestant cause, in contact with a strong female evangelist who experiences the ire of the King. Katherine has served as regent while Henry has been away at the wars. She has been successful, also a strong stepmother young Elizabeth and the young Edward. At this stage, Mary, with her fiery Spanish background from her mother, Katherine of Aragon, is a young adult at the court.

But, while the film shows Katherine as strong, the performance is not quite as attention commanding as intended. Jude Law is pompous, vulgar, festering leg injury, callous in terms of his lustful roving eye, a monarch of whims, Law certainly holding audience attention. As does Simon Russell Beale as Stephen Gardner, reminding audiences of the complexities of the break from Rome, of the role of the Catholics, of the role of the emerging Church of England. Gardiner machinations, intrigues, has the ear of the king, is hostile to Katherine Parr, the scenes of the film concerning him the most active.

While Katherine Parr survived and married Thomas Seymour, the last part of the film highlights the Tudor history to come in drawing attention to the young Elizabeth, her character, her emerging self-assertion.

Firebrand does not stand out amongst the film is about Henry VIII but, the subject matter is always interesting and intriguing.

1. The title? As applied to Katherine Parr, the historical role, author, promoter of the Protestant cause, relationship with the Seymours, the last wife of Henry VIII? Not so much of a firebrand in this version?
2. Elizabeth Fremantle and her Tudor novels? Adapted, historical interpretations, inventions, the film’s screenplay and further interventions and interpretations?
3. The period, the last year of Henry VIII’s life? His return from the wars? His reputation, Katherine of Aragon and the divorce, the clash with Rome, wanting the male heir, execution of Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth, Jane Seymour and her death, Prince Edward? The marriage to Katherine Parr, her being Regent during his absence, stepmother to his children?
4. The portrait of Katherine Parr, her age, her past, marriages and widow, relationship with the Seymours, the political implications? Her concern about her books, her prayers and compositions, publishing? Her skills, as Regent, the relationship with Elizabeth, good stepmother? The marriage to Henry VIII, a loving relationship, tolerating the relationship, personal, sexual, political? His ability to turn against those closest to him? The execution of two of his previous wives?
5. Katherine Parr, the connection with Anne Askew, the scenes with Anne Askew, her preaching, her beliefs, the Bible, strong Protestantism? Katherine Parr’s support? The gift of the heirloom and its later been used against her?
6. Jude Law’s interpretation of Henry VIII, big, ageing, jovial, hedonistic, whims, narcissistic, back from the war, his past, his children, his hold over them, trusting Katherine Parr, his relationship with her, his vigorous and violent sexuality? Food? His health, the infection on his leg, the doctors treating him, in close-up? The sores, the smell?
7. The King’s behaviour, his whims, erratic, the banquet, his eyeing of the young woman and interviewing her, getting her to sing, all in the presence of his wife? The expectations of the time for the king and women? His relationship with the Seymours? His relationship with Stephen Gardiner, Gardiner’s advice, machinations, against Anne Askew, against the Queen?
8. The Seymours, Katherine’s relationship with Thomas, the planning of Edward, the era of the king, the king suspicions about Thomas, the accession of Prince Edward, Edward and advising Thomas to betray Katherine for their political safety?
9. Stephen Gardiner, Catholic background, in the service of Henry VIII, the fluidity of Catholic prelates and Protestant prelates, the absence of Thomas Cranmer from this film, Gardiner, Catholic attitudes, against Anne Askew, interrogating the Queen, his visits, interviews, his political and religious names?
10. The portrait of Mary, speaking Spanish, memories of her mother, her age, attitude towards Elizabeth, in the presence of the king, the banquets, her relationship to Katherine?
11. The portrait of Elizabeth, strong minded, her age, coping in the court, her attitude towards her father, the memories of her mother’s death? Reliance on Katherine Parr?
12. Prince Edward, his age, heir to the throne, the Seymour’s? His role in the court, his father’s attitude?
13. Katherine Parr, the pregnancy, and invention for this story, the experience of the pregnancy, the king’s reaction, the miscarriage, the blood, the consequences?
14. Katherine, the arrest, in prison, the release, her going to visit Henry, invented aspect of her responsibility for his death? Fiction?
15. The enclosed nature of this story, within the walls of the Castle, some views of the building from outside, but the claustrophobic effect? And in the confines of this Tudor world?