Reigning in an age long before divorce counselors, Henry VIII certainly would have benefitted from one. The paunchy king separated from five of his six wives, two of whom had their marriages annulled by way of beheading. The fates of these unions were immortalized in a rhyme: “divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived.” The film Firebrand, which premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, concerns the “survived” wife, Katherine Parr (Alicia Vikander). At the start, we discover that the king (Jude Law) has temporarily left his throne in order to fight overseas, and has entrusted Katherine to serve as Regent in his absence. Swayed by the teachings of Anne Askew (Erin Doherty), Katherine uses her newfound power to advance Protestantism. This incenses the king upon his return. And if history (or Shakespeare) tells us anything, it’s that this is a king you don’t want to anger. Firebrand brings it all to life, and for Parr, it’s touch and go. —Jack Sullivan