But throughout the film the threat is never very clear-was the threat from France, from Scotland, from Spain, or from the Pope? Was the villainous Duke of Norfolk indeed the next heir to the English throne? Anyone who knows 16th-century history well realizes the film is filled with inaccuracies-for those who don't, much of it is incomprehensible, as it really does not explain the political issues that faced Elizabeth at the beginning of her reign. The audience is presented with a young queen under threat, a threat that is being resolved at the end of the film. The plot is episodic and unfortunately often quite incoherent.
But, alas, this is a historical drama that is neither historical nor dramatic. That it plays fast and loose with historical fact would be less egregious if it was at least good drama. The script appears most responsible for the film's failings. The film takes great liberties by compressing the political intrigues with members of her court and the conflicts with Scotland, France, and Spain from throughout her reign into the first five years. Though greatly at risk, Elizabeth survives her sister's reign to become queen and establish England as a Protestant nation. It begins at the violent end of Mary I's reign, as the Catholic ruler has heretics burned in a violent effort to halt the Protestantism unleashed by her father Henry VIII. That events from throughout Elizabeth's reign are presented as occurring in the first five years is forgivable as dramatic license, but numerous made-up events and historical errors mar the film. Henry V works as both modern film and historical drama.
Shakespeare's own history plays were filled with inaccuracies but are great drama, and Kenneth Branagh's version of Henry V beautifully recreates medieval politics and the horrors of war while presenting wonderful character development. Sometimes dramatic films must sacrifice historical accuracy to present the greater "truth" about a person or a time period or simply to make a satisfying story. Last year's Elizabeth, directed by Shekhar Kapur and starring Cate Blanchett, is the most recent attempt to dramatize the life of one of history's most interesting characters. Presenting history on film in a way that is both historically accurate and dramatically satisfying can be a difficult task.
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