The Other Boleyn Girl parents guide

The Other Boleyn Girl Parent Guide

Overall C-

With pressure from their ambitious father to advance their family's royal favor and status, Anne and Mary Boleyn (Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson) compete for the affections of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana). The resulting rivalry between the two sisters initially threatens to tear apart their relationship --and ultimately one looses her head over the whole affair.

Release date February 28, 2008

Violence C-
Sexual Content D
Profanity B-
Substance Use B

Why is The Other Boleyn Girl rated PG-13? The MPAA rated The Other Boleyn Girl PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content and some violent images.

Parent Movie Review

With the success of two films chronicling the life of Elizabeth I (played by Cate Blanchett who received Oscar nominations for both), it isn’t surprising that Elizabeth’s father also gets his turn on screen. Yet in The Other Boleyn Girl, King Henry VIII’s scandal-fraught reign leads viewers to believe much of England’s history, politically and religiously, was shaped by sex and ambition during his time on the throne.

Anxious to sire a son, Henry (Eric Bana) becomes disenchanted when his wife, Katherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent), produces only one surviving child—a daughter. However, he seems to have more than an heir on his mind when he meets Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman) at her father’s estate during a hunting expedition.

Eager to secure titles and wealth, Anne’s father (Mark Rylance) and her uncle (David Morrissey) sense the attraction and see an opportunity to ensure their family’s position with the Tudor Empire. Sending Anne and her sister Mary (Scarlett Johansson) to the Queen’s court, they hope to have Anne chosen as the King’s new mistress. Surprisingly, it’s Mary who catches the king’s eye instead. Despite being married to William Carey (Benedict Cumberbatch), she is readied and sent into the King’s bed. Eventually, she gives birth to his son. But by that time, the rift is wide between the two sisters who find themselves vying for the attention of the sovereign who’s interested in finding new conquests to spoil.

With a hunger for power that rivals her uncle’s, Anne taunts the king by keeping him from the very thing he wantsÉ her body. Demanding to be his wife rather than his mistress, she drives the lust-driven ruler to break ties with the Pope and begin his own religion in order to secure a divorce. Unfortunately, her ambition extols a heavy tax on the Boleyn family.

Unable to change history, audiences already know the fate of Queen Anne. Yet the journey to her demise proves to be sexually graphic and, at times, disturbing, particularly when unlucky court members are beheaded. Deeming morality to be a virtue for others only, the king avails himself of any maiden he desires. The illicit affairs result in scenes of sexual activity between unmarried adults, rape and the suggestion of incest. Sexually oriented dialogue including a repeated term for an illegitimate child, brief vulgarities and terms of Deity are also found in the script.

Portman and Johansson put in strong performances as sisters at odds in a time when women had little influence beyond their sexual favors. While compassion and forgiveness become powerful forces in this family drama, the film is a bleak commentary on a man ruled by raging hormones rather than good sense.

Starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana. Theatrical release February 28, 2008. Updated

The Other Boleyn Girl
Rating & Content Info

Why is The Other Boleyn Girl rated PG-13? The Other Boleyn Girl is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for mature thematic elements, sexual content and some violent images.

The lack of a male heir is just one factor that has Henry VIII ready to bed a series of women. Sexual activity includes passionate kissing, adulterous couplings, some bare skin, a rape and insinuation of incest, along with frank sexual dialogue. Executions, bloody animal carcasses and a court trial are depicted as well as scenes of childbirth. A repeated term for illegitimate children is used in the script along with brief coarse language and several terms of Deity. A man drinks to deal with emotional trauma.

Page last updated

The Other Boleyn Girl Parents' Guide

How does the desire for titles and position drive the Boleyn family? What impact does it eventually have on them? How are the qualities of kindness and compassion viewed?

What gender differences are portrayed in this film? What are the double standards? How does Anne defy the balance of power? What impact does she have on the kingdom?

Marriages were often arranged for political reasons. How does this affect the couples in this movie? Is love possible in an arranged marriage?

 

Home Video

The most recent home video release of The Other Boleyn Girl movie is June 9, 2008. Here are some details…

The Other Boleyn Girl releases to DVD with other materials, such as deleted and extended scenes, plus camera tests (with narration by director Justin Chadwick). Also included are three featurettes: To Be a Lady (learn about the life of a lady and court etiquette in the 16th Century England), Translating History to the Screen (how filmmakers brought this adaptation of a best-selling book to life) and Members of the Court Biographies (a look at the real lives of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII and others).

The Other Boleyn Girl on Blu-ray offers all of the above bonus extras as well as Inside the Court (a picture-in-graphics track with trivia and facts).

Audio tracks are available in Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, French and Spanish), with subtitles in English, French and Spanish.

Related home video titles:

In A Man for All Seasons, Sir Thomas Moore, known for unshakeable values, faces derision and political ruin when he refuses to support King Henry’s bid for divorce. The English monarchy is also threatened when Sir Lancelot steals the heart of King Arthur’s Queen in the musical Camelot.