The Other Boleyn Girl- Rating ✰✰✰


Produced and Distributed by Universal, this film features; Natalie Portman,  Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana,and is WAY better than the BBC TV version based on Phillipa Gregory's novel.

It is based on the much untold story of Anne Boleyn's Young sister Mary, that alot of people don't know about.
Its a tale of sex, scandal, and lies. Mary Boleyn seems the much nicer sister whom Henry VIII had alot of respect for, interestingly as he didn't have alot of respect for many people.
I have to say Anne Boleyn comes across as a nasty character in the film; she is terribly jealous of her younger sister Mary for getting married before her and most of all for being in the kings bed first. Anne appears a rebel as she secretly marries Henry Percy and then when the king takes an interest in her, she denies all knowledge of having done so. After being sent to France she comes back a changed character and has learnt many ways of seducing men over there. She uses these new found tactics to seduce the king and eventually become Queen herself. This hurts her sister Mary who has subcutaneously fell in love with the king at this point.
Not a happy ending, i think anyone who knows anything about history knows how this story ends. However im not sure that many people know the story of Anne's sister Mary. At the end of the film i couldn't help but think that perhaps Mary would have been better off marrying the king. In effect the Boleyn's family ambitions cost them 2 children.

Worth a watch to anyone in my opinion not just a history story but a story of scandal, gossip and dynasty.