The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)

There’s a reason I was nearly besotted with the Queen Charlotte series. I have a thing for historical movies that is yet to be explained. I love seeing movie adaptations of events that are remarkable in history, and even the ones that are brushed under the carpet. I had kept this particular movie on hold for the longest time because I’m quite familiar with the story, and I was putting the potential heartache for when I felt ready. Thankfully, that time came a few days ago, and I soaked myself in every immersing moment.

The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)

Henry VIII of England is displeased that his brother’s widow, now his wife, Catherine of Aragon has not produced a male heir. Over at the village, Lady Mary Boleyn marries Sir William, a merchant, and one of the King’s Courtiers. Norfolk, the maternal uncle of the Boleyn girls, devises a means where their family can rise in status by making Anne, the other Boleyn sister, the King's mistress with the hopes that if she produces a male heir for the King, their status and power will be sealed for life.

However, after a hunting accident, Henry becomes taken by the married Mary, who tends to his wounds and orders her to his court together with Anne to be the ladies-in-waiting for Catherine. When Mary is pregnant with his child, and is confined to bedrest, again Norfolk rationalizes that the King could lose interest and get another mistress, so Anne, who had previously been banished to the France court to learn proper court ways is recalled to the Court of England to distract the King. And from there, everything gets better. Or so, we think.

My Thoughts and Rating

Let’s see, I did say that I’m quite familiar with the story of King Henry VIII of England. So, this was me basically watching to see how they were going to put into picture this renowned story, and can I say that it was done quite beautifully.

The casting of this movie was also exquisitely done. Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn was quite a masterful stroke. You could see that she was heavily invested in making her role as realistic as possible. And this is the first time seeing Scarlett Johansson in a role where she wasn’t in power...of sorts. I can rightfully say that her acting has definitely gotten better and more refined over the years. Her role as Mary Boleyn, though, was nothing short of impeccable.

It needs to be studied how much greed people had then. Obviously, this level of greed within a family subsists till now. But it was marvelling seeing how an “Uncle” could mastermind the doom of a whole family because of his personal greed and ambition, and just how quickly he turns his back on them the moment he feels their use is over. He was cunning, crafty, the perfect ‘two steps ahead’ thinker. Grating but still beautiful to see.

And more than anything, this movie emphasized the need to not be married to a weakling of a man. In everything, the girls’ mother was the star of the show to me. Forever incarcerated by her husband’s feebleness and how he could never rise to the occasion, but bow to the wishes of Norfolk because of his own insecurities. She watched her whole family come to ruin because of the decisions of a weak husband, and could only voice her displeasure but do nothing to change it.

Greed, lust, ambition, sibling rivalry, and power became the bane of existence to these aristocrats. I think of a world where Henry VIII, was not obsessively ruled by his passion and lust, and had simply taken in Anne like he was supposed to, or maybe the daughter of Catherine of Aragon became the rightful heir, or there weren’t scheming uncles, or sisters actually sticking to each other, and not allowing vile, ambitious men, or even their own misplaced passionsambitions come between them. But if any of these things happened, we won’t be having this most masterful story, would we?

Altogether, The Other Boleyn Girl is a beautiful story, and the title couldn’t have been more apt. I had a good time seeing it, and I would love recommendations of other historical, aristocratic stories I could soak myself into in times where the workings and intricacies of the Law can no longer enter my head.

Jhymi🖤

_{Images from IMDB.}

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