[Bordermarch] Movie Night

[Jillian Birtciel]

Sorry, I forgot!

King Henry V, of the House of Lancaster,  of England was a terrific,
dynamic military leader who won several decisive battles in the Hundred
Years War with France.  Probably his most famous, the Battle of Agincourt,
is celebrated in song and story and was immortalized by William Shakespeare
in the play Henry V.

Kenneth Branaugh, who directed and starred in this movie version, is one of
the best interpreters of Shakespearean theater ever.  The film is filled
with notable English actors such as Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir Ian Holm, Dame
Judy Dench, Paul Scofield, Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson and Christian
Bale (the latest Batman!) in one of his earliest roles.

The movie focuses on Henry from just after he takes the throne through his
treaty and marriage to a princess of France, Catherine (Emma Thompson).
Two vital battles, Harfleur and Agincourt, feature prominently as well as
the accompanying speeches before and after.  The language is Shakespearean,
so prepare yourself if you're not familiar with it.  HE AmberLea, myself,
and I'm sure others, can help 'translate' for anyone who gets lost.

For SCA purposes, Henry V showcases a great swath of Medieval life in the
early 1400's.  The costuming is fantastic, as well as glimpses at
day-to-day life and war practices at that time.  While this is essentially
a work of fiction, it is based on an actual person and actual events and
was written only 150 years or so after his death (from dysentery...)

This is one of my family's favorite movies, and has been for years.  HE
AmberLea, my sister Lady Maisie, and myself learned the song at the end of
the Battle of Agincourt, and often perform it at events.  My son, Morgan
Lloyd, was so entranced by the Welsh longbowmen that Henry so effectively
employed, that he has based his own young persona on those men entirely!

Come on out and watch with us, it's a fabulous film and we're going to have
a great night!

~Jillian

-- 
Yours in Service,

~Jillian Saint Andre, OSTB
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 *Beauty, strength, youth, are flowers but fading seen;* *Duty, faith,
love, are roots, and ever green.*

GEORGE PEELE, *Polyhymnia*
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