My apologies for spoiling Firebrand (2023) at the outset, but Katherine Parr (Alicia Vikander) did not kill King Henry VIII (Jude Law).  There are some other aspects that also stretch historical believability, such as the closeness of the relationship between Henry’s last wife, the aforementioned Katherine, and Anne Askew (Erin Doherty).  These are all people who existed and knew of each other at a time when England revolted against the Catholic Church and established its own brand of Christianity.  Much of what you see happening pertains to this break with Rome and how the government and the people handled practicing their Faith in a manner different from what they had been doing for the previous thousand years.  I will understand if this does not sound like a recipe for cinematic entertainment to you.  However, your humble reviewer is also a historian, so please occasionally indulge me.  It is because I ask for such a favor that I point out the departures from the historical record.  It is close enough to the truth to be good, but severely dramatized as only Hollywood can do.

You might not think of Hollywood with the opening script to Firebrand as it sets the historical scene.  Henry is in France on a military campaign, leaving Katherine to act as his regent.  While he is away, England is in the midst of the aforementioned religious upheaval.  Adding to the uncertainty is Anne.  Much of the country, though embracing a reformation of faith, are not willing to go as far as her.  Katherine, as an old friend to Anne, has come to listen to her longtime companion preach more radical measures, like having the Bible in English.  Back at court, which has been relocated outside the plague-ridden streets of London, Katherine brings up these suggestions at Privy Council, the group of the king’s closest advisors.  This stirs the ire or the Bishop of Winchester, Stephen Gardiner (Simon Russell Beale).  He makes it clear that no further changes to the Church of England need be made, and that anything else could be treasonous.  He also vows to go after anyone associated with such propositions.  It is the beginning of many troubles for Katherine, which she exacerbates when she takes an expensive set of jewels given to her by Henry and hands them to Anne to effect the latter’s escape from persecution.  As this tension builds, she learns that Henry is returning home sooner than expected.  It has nothing to do, for now, with any suspicions on his part of foul play.  The current issue is the festering ulcer on his leg, the result of an ancient wound.  Indeed, in the midst of his pain, he is pleased to see his wife and gives her a pet parrot as a present.  They settle into their roles as king and queen and all that entails, but soon Henry starts to behave erratically.  Some of this is related to the advice spoken by Bishop Gardiner, who had overheard Katherine praying out loud in English.  Bishop Gardiner discusses going after the followers of Anne, putting them on trial, and executing them.  You will notice that this sequence of events precludes a guilty verdict.  Thus, of course Anne is found guilty and put to death, a turn of events that deeply disturbs Katherine.  Such is her anger that she even speaks out against her king, her nearly chokes her to death in public before she can smooth things over with a hasty apology.  Despite having dealt with one potential threat, Bishop Gardiner returns to trying to find a way to implicate Katherine.  Luckily for her, though, in more ways than one, she has become pregnant by Henry.  As long as she is with child, she is safe from impeachment.  Henry does have a male heir in young Prince Edward (Patrick Buckley), but no king of the day truly felt their legacy was secure with just one son.  Still, even this development does not permanently keep Katherine’s foes at bay.  There is the ever-present Bishop Gardiner, but increasingly her biggest adversary is Henry.  One day during a garden party, Henry invites Thomas Seymour (Sam Riley) to dance with Katherine.  Katherine and Thomas are hesitant to do so because their affections for one another are no secret.  Also, he has attempted to show his love for her in private many times.  Hence, after their display, Henry flies into a rage wondering if the child she is carrying is his or Thomas’.  Henry’s angry exertions lead to him slipping into a delirium, caused by his ulcer, and many fear he is about to die.  At the same time, this stressful situation causes Katherine to have a miscarriage, sadly.  Not only is she mourning the loss of the child, but also the opening it provides for Bishop Gardiner.  When Henry recovers his wits, he gives Bishop Gardiner permission to use whatever means necessary to implicate Katherine.  He puts pressure on Edward Seymour (Eddie Marsan), Thomas’ older brother and advisor to the king and queen.  In turn, Edward tells Thomas that they will both be in trouble unless the younger brother helps.  Thomas had managed to retrieve the necklace given to Anne, but now he turns it over Bishop Gardiner in exchange for leniency.  Henry then uses it to have Katherine put in prison, although she maintains her innocence.  Unfortunately for Henry, he relapses into a sickly state, particularly after his children profess their love for Katherine.  Unexpectedly, on his deathbed he calls for his wife to come to his side.  Ordering everyone out of the room, he asks her if she loves him.  She says her love is for the king, but then proceeds to suffocate him.

A postscript to Firebrand adds that she outlives Henry by a year and a few months.  The historical record tells you that she dies due to complications from childbirth, having conceived with her last husband, Thomas.  Why a poised and tough woman like her would acquiesce to a spineless guy like him is a bit of a mystery.  There is a lot more history I could discuss, but the important aspect on which to focus are the questions of Christian faith.  As briefly discussed in the introduction, this is a time when the once staunchly Catholic England turned its back on Rome.  With it came a lot of wondering as to how they were now supposed to follow God, which explains well the scene when Bishop Gardiner comes across Jane praying out loud in the vernacular.  To the untrained ear and eye, this might not seem like a big deal. However, the sixteenth century is when the Protestant Reformation began.  I have had professors in my academic career refer to Henry as a closeted Catholic, even after officially abandoning the Church.  He may have been the one in the 1530s to dissolve the union with Rome and establish the Church of England, but at one time Pope Leo X had labeled him a Defender of the Faith.  This fact is referenced in the film, so kudos for doing so.  At the same time, this is no passing matter.  Granted, it was part of a calculation to keep Henry in line, but it was also an acknowledgement of the depth of the king’s faith.  Then again, one could look at the fact that he had six wives, Katherine being the sixth and last, and see Henry in a different light.  The way he treated them was also not becoming of a Christian.  You see this behavior exemplified in them film, but some historical reminders are warranted.  His first, Catherine of Aragon, was annulled after an inability to produce an heir, which touched off the turn away from Catholicism; the second, Anne Boelyn, was executed on suspicion of treason; the third, Jane Seymour, died giving birth to Prince Edward; the fourth, Anne of Cleves, was annulled and lived out a peaceful life, longer than any other; the fifth, Catherine Howard, was also accused of treason and beheaded; and you already know what happened to the sixth.  Is it there any wonder the Church frowns on divorce?

That is arguably another flaw of Firebrand: it says little about all the king’s divorces.  Next, I was a little worried about the choice of Law for King Henry VIII, though I think he did a fine job.  The main problem with the film, nonetheless, is that it is just fine.  It does not get the history right enough, while at the same time acting like it is historically accurate.  That is never a recipe for a good movie.