Firebrand ★★

Released: 6^th September

Director: Karim Aïnouz

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Simon Russell Beale, Edward Seymour, Sam Riley

Henry VIII is one of the most recognisable monarchs in the UK’s history. From reforming the church to his six wives and series of wars, he is notable for several reasons. While his marriages from Catherine of Aragon through Jane Seymour have been well depicted, his latter reign and marriages don’t always get the same reputation. Firebrand seeks to change that, telling the story of Henry’s final wife Katherine Parr at the end of Henry’s reign in an era of uncertainty.

In terms of structure and content. Firebrand will inevitably be viewed as a sibling film to Spencer, Jackie or Corsage with it focusing on a woman in an overwhelmingly male societal structure. While those three films had interesting things to say about their respective subjects, Firebrand feels like it skirts around the edge more, struggling to give us a meaningful insight into Katherine as a person. It doesn’t help that much of the film focuses on the Seymour’s and the political manoeuvring of Henry VIII’s court. This works better in something like Wolf Hall where we are given time to get to know the characters.

Here there is an element of assuming the audience will know who is who without much of an introduction. Leaving little for us to connect to these characters and in focusing on this particular period in Henry’s reign and Katherine’s life. It perhaps robs us of some of the build-up to the situation and the character’s relationships.

The saving grace here is the aesthetic and palette of the film, anchored by Hélène Louvart’s stunning cinematography. There is a sense of lurking threat from the plague and unease around the castle.

Alicia Vikander, Jude Law and the rest of the cast do their best to add some intrigue, helping to keep Firebrand watchable. But in truth, it is a shame they aren’t better serviced by the script or story which can often feel cumbersome. Some narrative decisions, such as bookending the film with the future Queen Elizabeth I disrupt the flow and feel intrusive to the story being told.

Not without some interesting moments and whilst it certainly looks the part. There is nothing to make Firebrand compelling viewing or standout among other film takes on The Tudors. It does little to inform us about the life of Katherine Parr but it may just make curious viewers delve into her life more.