THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL
UK, 2008, 115 minutes, Colour.
Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Kristen Scott Thomas, Mark Rylance, Jim Sturgess, Juno Temple, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Redmayne.
Directed by Justin Chadwick.
Most audiences know the ending for Anne Boleyn, so it is how it began and how it developed that are the important matters here. Prolific writer, Peter Morgan (The Deal, The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, Longford, Frost/Nixon) has adapted a historical novel by Philippa Gregory – which leads to a strange disclaimer at the end of the film that this is a fiction and any resemblance…!
Already filmed for television in 2003 with Johdi May as Anne, Natascha Mc Elhone as Mary and Jared Harris as Henry VIII, this is a lavish screen version catering for what one commentator called the audience appetite for Tudorbethan dramas. Costumes, décor, locations should please those who want to see and visualise history.
The story is intriguing (in both senses). While the younger, married, Mary Boleyn, was designated by her ambitious and greedy family to be Henry VIII’s mistress after Anne, originally the choice fell out of favour, and bore the king a son, she is the other Boleyn girl. However, early in the film Anne refers to herself in this way. However, she eventually outshines and outmanoeuvres Mary. Anne is first chosen by the ruthless and blunt Duke of Norfolk (an alarmingly steely performance from David Morrissey), forcing his weaker brother-in-law, Thomas Boleyn (a credible Mark Rylance) to prostitute his daughter to the king to win favours and pay off debts. Norfolk’s sister, Elizabeth (Kristin Scott Thomas) is a strong woman but tends to accept this status quo.
Henry VIII’s desire to have a male heir to consolidate his kingdom is well-known and the core of this story. Catherine of Aragon (an effectively controlled performance by Ana Torent, the fine child actress from the 1970s in The Spirit of the Beehive and Cria Cuervos) bears her daughter, Mary, but only stillborn males.
This screenplay makes Anne and her shrewd and ambitiously scheming and Henry’s unruly passion for her the motive forces for defying the Pope and separating England from the Catholic Church (Peter Morgan’s explicit screenplay statement). Wolsey and Cranmer do not figure here, but the plot makes a strong case for Anne’s power and influence. With the birth of Elizabeth and a miscarriage, Anne knew that a king who had discarded his wife and her sister, Mary, would discard her too.
Eric Bana is a quieter Henry VIII than might have been expected. Scarlett Johansson is credible and quite effective as Mary, portraying her as a more decent and heroic woman given the treatment by family and king. But Natalie Portman is mightily impressive as Anne, charming, self-confident, wily and, given the momentum from the Duke of Norfolk’s plan, more than an accomplice, taking over and dominating until she marries and is crowned as queen. Then she reaps the consequences of her flirtatious whirlwind.
The other strength of the film is the dynamic between the two sisters, loving, a sense of betrayal, hostility and jealousy, dependence and reconciliation. An interesting and entertaining contribution to screen Tudor history.
1.Audience enjoyment of Tudor stories, the familiarity of this history, characters? The differences – and this film based on a novel?
2.The film as a more intimate look at Tudor characters? The focus on characters, close-ups, interiors? Yet the locations, exteriors, action? The interiors in the palaces, the rooms, the Tower of London? The momentary sequence on the beach and the landing from France?
3.Audience knowledge of the characters, attitudes towards Henry VIII, towards Anne Boleyn? Audiences not knowing much about Mary Boleyn? The background of the Duke of Norfolk, the Seymours and their influence? Catherine of Aragon, Mary, the still-births, her not producing a male heir? Henry VIII and his attitude, his love for Catherine yet divorcing her? The Catholic church, the Reformation? The film’s statement about Henry separating England from the Catholic church?
4.The title, the reference to Mary? Anne referring to herself as ‘the other Boleyn girl’?
5.The prologue, the three children, playing, the parents and their comments on each of the characters? The parallel ending with the young Elizabeth?
6.The Boleyns, the father and his debts, Elizabeth as the sister of the Duke of Norfolk, her wealth? Their home, Boleyn as weak, Elizabeth as strong? The three children? Mary and her future, the marriage, the happy ceremony, life in the country, her hopes? The marriage night, the preparation, talking with Anne, the aftermath? Her life being in order? The change?
7.The contrast with Anne, older, strong character, love for Mary, her place in the family, the information about the king’s visit, the potential to be the king’s mistress, her agreeing? Her ambitions, talk with the king, the discussion about riding, the hunt, the ravine, the king’s accident, her being ousted and in disgrace, the exile to France?
8.The character of Henry VIII, seeing the younger Henry, his relationship with Catherine, twenty-eight years on the throne, Mary as his daughter, the antagonism, wanting a male heir, his political reasons for England? The preparation for the visit to the Boleyns, the entourage and the arrival, meeting the family, Anne and her impact? The discussion about riding, his accident, Mary tending him, his response, his demand that she come to court?
9.The Duke of Norfolk, his plans, a hard man, direct and ruthless, with the Boleyns, persuading his sister? With the girls and George? Their reactions? Mary as the chosen one, the family going to court, Anne and her reaction, their being taken to Catherine, Mary singing and Catherine’s reaction, Jane Parker in the entourage?
10.Anne and Henry Percy, marriage, consummation, Mary telling the family, Anne and her anger, the marriage annulled?
11.Mary and the king, as his mistress, in love with the king, her husband and his subservience, taking his place in the court? Mary’s pregnancy, being left alone, in the dark, the birth of the son, Henry merely glancing?
12.Anne and her exile, the experience in France, the return on the beach, her going to court, her laughter, the king inquiring, her talking about the French court, the discussion about whether she could see a good man in the court, her tantalising Henry? His listening, forgiving her? The attraction, Anne and her power, refusing any sexual encounter, her aims, the annulment of the marriage, the divorce, not caring about the church or politics?
13.Mary, the birth of the child, Stafford and his devotion, their returning to the country?
14.Norfolk, his achievement, success for the family?
15.Anne, the wedding, her being pregnant, the birth of Elizabeth, the king’s reaction, being pregnant again, the alarm of the miscarriage, her discussions with Mary, the proposal that George make her pregnant, his agreement, refusal? The accusations against her? The witness of Jane Parker? Henry’s reaction? The court hearing, her being pronounced guilty by all?
16.The Boleyns out of favour, the family, the Duke of Norfolk? Anne and her discussions with Mary? The reconciliation? Her appeal to Mary? Mary, the confrontation with Henry, his later writing the letter, her receiving it as Anne was on the scaffold, the refusal for a pardon?
17.George, his place in the family, sharing the family’s ambitions or not? His being forced to marry Jane Parker? Jane Parker as an attendant to the queen, her jealousy, her being persuaded to spy? George and his place in the court, Anne’s proposal, his agreement, change of mind, being seen by Jane? His being taken to execution?
18.Elizabeth, her reaction to her children being killed, her slapping her husband’s face, accusing him of weakness? His being present at Anne’s execution?
19.Anne, going to the scaffold, her religious language, prayer, her death? The crowds watching?
20.The information given at the end of the film, especially about Mary and the happiness of her life with Stafford?
