The King–Royal Turpitude?

In this very loosely interpreted adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Henriad”, The King (2019) focuses on Prince Hal (Timothée Chalamet) and his reluctant acceptance of the crown, becoming Henry V, King of England.   

Hal’s defiance is due to his difficult relationship with his dying father, King Henry IV (Ben Mendelsohn).  Perhaps in retaliation for his son’s rebellious and unaffectionate nature, King Henry IV names his younger, more obedient son, Thomas (Dean-Charles Chapman), as the heir to his throne. A father-son-sibling dynamic builds to a crisis.

Young Prince Hal has been spending his days drinking and womanizing with his equally carousing friend and mentor Falstaff (Joel Edgerton), a former warrior-knight , with nonetheless impeccable standards for honor and human decency.  When Prince Hal unexpectedly is designated to be the future King Henry V at his father’s deathbed, the warmongering father orders the crown prince to declare war on France.  However, Henry V is opposed to war.  

Believing he does not have to follow  his father’s orders,  young Henry V wants to rule England in peace, defying bishops and cardinals, and his trusted advisor, William Gascoigne (Sean Harris). Gascoigne warns that France is goading England to war with insults and an attempted assassination:   “Problems that are left unattended become crises.” 

Trusting both Gascoigne and Falstaff,  newly crowned Henry is given a different interpretation of monarchy from Falstaff:  “A king has no friends. A king only has followers and foes.” But Henry does not grasp the brutal truth of Falstaff’s words and remains confused and in a quandary.

The King benefits from avoiding Shakespearean English so that the dialogue is much more accessible.  The cinematography–in mostly sepia tones, especially on the battlefield of Agincourt,–recreates the emotional as well as the atmospheric tones of the 1500s.  Chalamet’s surprising decision to assume a classical role results in a  commanding, sympathetic protagonist who portrays both youthful gullibility and increasing confidence without melodrama.  And the dazzling, high-caliber performances by Joel Edgerton as Falstaff, Sean Harris as Gascoigne, and especially a virtually unrecognizable Robert Pattinson as the French Dauphin are worth watching on their own merits.  Pattinson swans around, providing a lighter comedic contrast to the muddy, blood-spattered Agincourt.

For viewers who love Shakespeare and historical drama, this is an evocative period piece of the Elizabethan era, despite taking creative liberties with history.

Availability: Netflix

Note: A special treat–listening to Timothy Chalamet act in French. Chalamet is bilingual.