Firebrand

• Karim Aïnouz
• 120 min
• United Kingdom, United States
• 2023

Alicia Vikander and Jude Law shine in a proto-feminist period drama about the ruthless Henry VIII and his sixth wife, Catherine Parr.

The merciless King Henry VIII had already executed several of his previous wives when cracks begin to appear in his relationship with Catherine Parr. She caresses him tenderly but remains constantly vigilant – her radical Protestant beliefs put her life in danger. Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz's (The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão, GFF 2020) interpretation of Machiavellian power struggles during the Tudor era is visually rich, empathetically told, and incredibly well-acted. Jude Law strides as a roaring monarch with a gangrenous leg, and Alicia Vikander's nuanced portrayal of the rebellious queen is one of the most memorable performances of the year.

- Jonas Holmberg

• Kostym
• Historia
• Makt
• Religion
• Drama