Period film “Firebrand,” starring Jude Law and Alicia Vikander, had its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, May 21. a standing ovation for nearly nine minutes.
The Festival de Cannes, or the Cannes Film Festival, is an event that takes place annually in Cannes, France, to honor newly released films and documentaries from around the world. The award for best film is the most prestigious one given here in Cannes and is called the Golden Palm or ‘Palme d’Or.’
Firebrand is the creation of South American filmmaker and director Karim Ainouz, and is written by sister duo Henrietta and Jessica Ashworth. Firebrand is Ainouz’s first English language film. At Cannes 2019, her Portuguese film “The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao” won an award, and her Portuguese documentary “Mariner of the Mountains” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival held in 2011.
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About Firebrands
Period films are the pieces that are set in earlier times. These types of films often have higher budgets, and are more complex in shooting compared to regular films, but great work goes into ensuring that the viewer experiences the past as if it were another reality. Firebrand’s source of inspiration is the novel “Queen’s Gambit” published in 2013 by author Elizabeth Fremantle.
In the film, Jude is seen playing the lead role of the barbaric Henry VIII, the former King of England who reigned from 1509 until his death in 1547. He is famous for his six marriages and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon; he is divorced with.
Talking about his career in the industry, David Jude Heyworth Law, or Jude Law, is a 50-year-old British actor, producer and director who was born and raised in London. He came to international attention for his role in the American psychological thriller film, The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), by Anthony Minghella. He also played the character Dane in Shakespeare’s Hamlet on Broadway, which earned him a second Tony nomination in 2010.
In Firebrand, Alicia Vikander played the king’s sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr, who he married in 1543, four years before her death. Catherine was a reformer at heart, best known when she was appointed queen regent in the absence of the king during wars abroad. She is seen fighting for her own survival, fearing that her fate might be similar to that of the previous king’s wife.
Now looking at history, Alicia Amanda Vikander is a 34 year old Swedish actress who gained international acclaim after her roles as Kitty in “Anna Karenina” (2012), “A Royal Affair” (2012), and “The Fifth Estate” (2013). She also won praise for her roles as the loving wife of an artist in the real-life-based drama “The Danish Girl” (2015), which earned her an Academy Award, and the humanoid robot (AI) Ava in the sci-fi film “Ex Machina. “
Jude, in an interview, mentioned that when he read the script, he was curious that people would know more about Henry VIII’s other five wives because they were all either divorced, died (of health problems), or were beheaded.
Apart from Jude and Alicia, Sam Riley, Eddie Marsan, Simon Russell Beale and Erin Doherty were also cast. The role of preacher and writer Anne Askew is played by Erin, Bishop Stephen Gardiner by Simon, Thomas and Edward Seymour by Sam and Eddie.
Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Karim Ainouz (director), Gabrielle Tana (producer) and others were greeted with warm greetings and applause after the film’s premiere on the Cannes 2023 red carpet.
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