The Other Boleyn Girl (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Philippa Lowthorpe

Writers:

Philippa Gregory (novel)
Philippa Lowthorpe (writer)

Release Date:

28 March 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Romance | Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

King Henry VIII | Infidelity | England | Scheme | Conspiracy

Cast

Natascha McElhone	...	Mary Boleyn
Jodhi May	...	Anne Boleyn
Jared Harris	...	Henry VIII
Steven Mackintosh	...	George Boleyn
Philip Glenister	...	William Stafford
Jack Shepherd	...	Thomas Boleyn
John Woodvine	...	Uncle Howard
Ron Cook	...	Thomas Cromwell
Anthony Howell	...	William Carey
Jane Gurnett	...	Elizabeth Boleyn
Yolanda Vazquez	...	Katherine of Aragon (as Yolanda Vasquez)
Geoffrey Streatfield	...	Francis Weston
Oliver Chris	...	Henry Percy
Naomi Benson	...	Jane Seymour
Zoe Waites	...	Jane Parker

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:16

Trivia:

The cast spent four weeks in workshops improvising the script together with director Philippa Lowthorpe.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)

Jodhi May is on the verge of major stardom

This is an excellent and daring adaptation of Philippa Gregory's novel of the same name. Purists of costume drama may be put off by the decidedly modern approach, but that shouldn't stop anyone from enjoying this particular peek inside the personal tug of war for position within Henry VIII's court.

The casting of Jodhi May as Anne Boleyn was surprising only upon seeing how very provocative and determined her Anne was. WOW! Ms. May charts a remarkable course from naive young love to ruthless ambition to ultimate dismay and regret. A better performance has not been seen on television this year, and I dare say won't be.

This isn't a grand sweeping picture of 16th c. England. It's an intimate look at two young sisters used as pawns by their ambitious family to gain reward from their king. It navigates the particular delicacy of sisterly love and hate and doesn't allow the fact that one of those sisters is one of England's most notorious historical figures to hold them back from exploring every emotional crevice of their tale.

Ultimately, this may be more pulp than fact, and it's clearly wort watching for Jodhi May alone, but also for Jared Harris as Henry VIII. His Henry moves beyond cliche and comes alive as the young, athletic, handsome man he was known to be before succumbing to gluttony.