Firebrand (2023 film)
Firebrand | |
---|---|
![]() North American release poster | |
Directed by | Karim Aïnouz |
Written by |
|
Based on | Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Hélène Louvart |
Edited by | Heike Parplies |
Music by | Dickon Hinchliffe |
Production companies |
|
Distributed by | Amazon Prime Video |
Release date |
|
Running time | 120 minutes[1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Box office | $2.5 million[2] |
Firebrand is a 2023 British historical drama film directed by Karim Aïnouz and written by Henrietta Ashworth and Jessica Ashworth, based on the 2013 novel Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle. The film focuses on Katherine Parr, Queen of England and the wife and widow of Henry VIII. It stars Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, and Eddie Marsan. The film marks Aïnouz's first directorial effort in the English language.
Firebrand premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2023, where it was selected to compete for Palme d'Or.
Premise
In the final years of Henry VIII's reign, his sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr, becomes caught between the teachings of the Church of England and the radical preaching of Anne Askew. Years later she avenges Anne's death by choking Henry, but it is in no one's interest to question what really happened.
Cast
- Alicia Vikander as Katherine Parr
- Jude Law as Henry VIII
- Eddie Marsan as Edward Seymour
- Ruby Bentall as Cat
- Bryony Hannah as Ellen
- Sam Riley as Thomas Seymour
- Maia Jemmett as Dot
- Amr Waked as Dr. Mulay Al Farabi
- Erin Doherty as Anne Askew
- Junia Rees as Princess Elizabeth
- Patsy Ferran as Princess Mary
- Patrick Buckley as Prince Edward
- Mina Andala as Jalinda
- Paul Tinto as Stowe
- Mia Threapleton as Joan Bocher
- Simon Russell Beale as Stephen Gardiner
- Linnea Martinsson as Maude Lane
- Ashley Reynolds as Leo
- Lisa Pyk Wirstrom as Eleanor Browne
- Ian Drysdale as Sir Anthony Denny
- Edward Harrison as John Gates
- Norman Bowman as Sir William Herbert
- Jason Baughan as Will Sommers
- Anna Mawn as Agnes Howard
Production
The film was announced during the 2021 American Film Market. Karim Aïnouz was set to direct, with Michelle Williams and Jude Law cast to star.[3] In March 2022, Alicia Vikander joined the cast, replacing Williams.[4][5] In May, Sam Riley, Eddie Marsan, Simon Russell Beale and Erin Doherty were among the additional cast announced for the film.[6]
Filming began by April 2022, with production taking place at Haddon Hall in Bakewell, Derbyshire until June.[7]
Release
Firebrand was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival,[8] where it had its world premiere on 21 May 2023.[9] FilmNation Entertainment sold the film to STXinternational for the United Kingdom and to Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions for multiple markets including Germany and Asia excluding Japan and independent distributors elsewhere. Amazon Prime Video was rumoured to have been in negotiations to acquire UK rights from STX, but it was later revealed the deal had already taken place in 2022.[10][11]
In December 2023, Roadside Attractions and Vertical Entertainment acquired US distribution rights to the film, scheduling it for a theatrical release on June 14, 2024.[12]
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 55% of 58 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "Divorced from the historical record with little to show for it, Firebrand is a period piece whose revisionist aims are at odds with its stultifying approach."[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 61 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[14]
Accolades
Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cannes Film Festival | 27 May 2023 | Palme d'Or | Karim Aïnouz | Nominated | [8] |
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.