#TheAverageViewer - Review of Firebrand

Dear Viewer,

I have to admit I am a massive fan of historical dramas. I am captivated by films that bring fascinating, compelling interpretations of the past to life on my screen. "Firebrand," written by Henrietta Ashworth and Jessica Ashworth and based on the 2013 novel "Queen's Gambit" by Elizabeth Fremantle, is directed by Karim A?nouz. The cast includes Alicia Vikander as Catherine Parr, Jude Law as Henry VIII, Eddie Marsan as Edward Seymour, Sam Riley as Thomas Seymour, and Simon Russell Beale as Bishop Stephen Gardiner. The story centers on the intense conflict between Catherine Parr and Bishop Gardiner.

The narrative is presented through the eyes of Princess Elizabeth, who recounts the story of her stepmother, Catherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII. The film covers the period following Parr's regency, during which Henry VIII was away losing battles abroad until his eventual death. While "Firebrand" strays from historical fact by depicting Catherine's arrest and imprisonment, this dramatic choice intensifies the narrative. Historically, Catherine Parr avoided arrest but faced significant danger due to her Protestant sympathies and efforts to promote religious reform. Her diplomatic skill and ability to navigate the treacherous political landscape of Henry VIII's court ultimately secured her survival.

Alicia Vikander delivers a remarkable performance as Catherine Parr. While the title "Firebrand" suggests a fiery rebel, Vikander portrays a terrified yet cautiously intelligent woman who escapes death through her wit. Jude Law masterfully embodies the aging King Henry, who, at the end of his life, is in pain, deeply narcissistic, capricious, and dangerous even to his own children. Vikander is supported by Ruby Bentall, who portrays a surprisingly agreeable Mary Tudor, and Junia Rees, who projects a sweet yet tragic image of a young Elizabeth Tudor.

Throughout the narration, we hear the tragic longing of young Elizabeth, who grew up in the shadow of an executed mother with the expectation that she too, would meet the same fate. Her love and respect for Catherine permeate her retelling, leading us to believe that Catherine's life and trials under the King profoundly affected Elizabeth's views on men and marriage.

The writing reflects a feminist perspective on Catherine Parr. Catherine's story is compelling in a time when women were confined to the domestic sphere and viewed as abnormal or downright evil for straying into public or intellectual realms. The film suggests that despite Catherine Parr's more radical views, she significantly influenced both Mary, a fiercely devout Catholic, and Elizabeth, a reasonable and tolerant reformer, who later, as Queens in their own right, became formidable protectors of their religious views.

Dear viewer, if you enjoy historical dramas with excellent storytelling conveyed by skilled actors, "Firebrand" is undoubtedly worth your time. I give it four out of five cups of your favourite brew.

Cheers, #cheryllynnwrites

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