The Other Boleyn Girl
Role: Mary Boleyn
Genre: Drama / History / Romance
Directed: Justin Chadwick
Written: Philippa Gregory, Peter Morgan
MPAA: PG-13
Year: 29 February, 2008
The Other Boleyn Girl is a compelling film due to the exceptional performances and the splendid costumes. Additionally, there is simply a terrific story told about the relationship of Henry VIII and the two Boleyn sisters, Anne and Mary.
Natalie Portman (Anne) and Scarlett Johansson (Mary) are outstanding as characters engaged in both sibling rivalry and sisterly bonding. In the central relationship of the sisters, the film develops the social roles and imposed limitations on women in Tudor England.
One of the film's most moving character portrayals is the mother of the two Boleyn Sisters. In the heartbreaking performance of Kristin Scott Thomas, Elizabeth Boleyn can only watch helplessly as her daughters become pawns of the greedy men (Thomas Boleyn and the Duke of Norfolk), who use the young women much like pimps in order to line their pockets and further their own advancement at court. Another sterling aspect of the film is the portrayal of Katherine of Aragon (Ana Torent), another victim of the men due to the obsessive pursuit of Henry VIII to beget a male heir, leading to his momentous divorce from Katherine and England's break with the church of Rome.
While commentators may point out the omissions of many of the details from the novel by Philippa Gregory, the film is still true to the spirit of the book. It is also a faithful representation of the role of women in Tudor age. The film effectively presents the gender issues from the perspective of many of the remarkable women of the age along with the reminder of the greatest legacy of Anne Boleyn, which was the indirect result of her relationship of Henry VIII. That legacy was the future ruler of England...and also a woman: Elizabeth I.
- Anne Boleyn
- Eric Bana
- Jim Sturgess
- Kristin Scott Thomas
- Ana Torrent
- Juno Temple
Mary Boleyn (c. 1499 - July 19, 1543) was a member of the famous aristocratic Boleyn family, which enjoyed considerable influence during the early part of the 16th century. Mary was one of the mistresses of King Henry VIII of England and also, allegedly, of his rival, King Francis I of France. She was married twice and most historians believe she was the elder sister of Queen Anne Boleyn. Some still claim that she may have been the younger sister, though her children, and Anne's daughter, believed Mary to be the elder.
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