The Other Boleyn Girl

Rating: 4/5

Cast: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Jim Sturgess

Plot:

Anne and Mary Boleyn are sisters, and though Mary has been married recently, both are after King Henry VIII.  Mary eventually falls in love with Henry, and Anne was to secure her social status. Since Henry’s wife, Catherine of Aragon, has not been able to provide him with a son, the girls’ father is in hopes that they will bear a son for him and raise the family’s social status.

Anne is sent to France after she causes a disturbance by marrying somebody who is already set to be married to another woman. Mary becomes Henry’s lover, and she gets pregnant.

Mary has to stay in bed through her pregnancy, since she was having health issues. During this time, Anne returns to the castle. Anne is supposed to distract the king, however she decides to attract him to herself.  She will not have sex with him, however, she tells him that if he does not ever speak to her sister again, he has a chance with her. Mary gives birth to a son, whom the king ignores.

Henry obtains a divorce from his wife, Catherine, and Anne will finally marry him.  Anne is now the Queen of England, and she is pregnant. She gives birth to a girl, Elizabeth. This does not settle well with the king, and when she gets pregnant again, she has a miscarriage. She is desperate, and asks her brother George to impregnate her. They do not follow through with it, however a rival of the girl’s tells the king that she saw them.

Anne and George are beheaded, even though Mary tries to save them both. She ends up raising Elizabeth, as well as her own son. Elizabeth eventually grows up to become the queen.