Rivals,Enemies,Sisters

Everyone knows about the Tudors. The story of King Henry VIII is one of the first things you learn in history. You learn the story and the rhyme before you've even learnt to spell your name. But then you hear about the other Boleyn girl. What? No, no, no. There was Anne Boleyn and that's it. The fat, ugly King had six women which he divorced, beheaded and all that.

Well, not according to Philippa Gregory the author of The Other Boleyn Girl whose bestselling novel has been turned into the film out in cinemas this week. The film follows the lives of the two Boleyn sisters, Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson), as they fight for the affections of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana).

Pushed by their father and uncle to boost the Boleyn family’s status in the royal court, the sisters compete against one another for the King’s affections and ultimately, their survival. It is rare for a film to have two female lead roles however Portman and Johansson work extremely well together with the latter playing Mary Boleyn to perfection. The quiet younger sister, content with married life in the country, accidentally becomes the object of the King’s desire and is sent to court against her wishes.

Once there she falls deeply in love with Henry, who surprises her with his passion and tenderness. Despite this, Mary is quickly cast aside to make way for her sister Anne, and as things begin to go drastically wrong, is forced to put aside her own heartbreak and risks her life to support her sister.

Opposite Johansson, Portman plays the mischievous and feisty older sister Anne. Angry with the attention her sister receives, Anne misbehaves in court and is sent away to France. Whilst there she learns how to seduce Henry and when she returns to England he will do anything to make her his mistress. But not content with being a mistress she plots to marry Henry and become Queen. Only one woman stands in her way: Henry’s first and current wife, Catherine.