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Henry V
1989 137 min United Kingdom PG-13 12+
★8.3
War, Drama, History
Director: Kenneth Branagh
🎭 Based on
«Henry V»
byWilliam Shakespeare
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
In 1415, in the midst of the Hundred Years' War, the young King Henry V of England embarks on the conquest of France.
Budget:
$9M
US Gross:
$10.16M
Worldwide:
$10.16M
Starring
Kenneth Branagh
Actor
Derek Jacobi
Actor
Simon Shepherd
Actor
Awards
European Film Awards 1990
— Best Director
BAFTA 1990
— Best Director
Academy Awards 1990
— Best Costume Design
BAFTA 1990
— Best Sound
European Film Awards 1990
— Best Director
BAFTA 1990
— Best Director
BAFTA 1990
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 1990
— Best Costume Design
Academy Awards 1990
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 1990
— Best Director
European Film Awards 1990
— Best Actor
European Film Awards 1990
— Best Film by a Young Director
Key opinion
Kenneth Branagh’s directorial debut is widely praised as a gritty, naturalistic departure from previous Shakespearean adaptations, favoring visceral realism over patriotic pageantry. The film is noted for its strong lead performance and its ability to transform complex verse into a compelling, visually immersive cinematic experience.
| Acting | Kenneth Branagh delivers an organic and compelling performance as the reluctant, melancholic monarch. | |
| Production | The production design and staging eschew spectacle in favor of gritty, evocative realism that immerses the viewer in the brutality of war. | |
| Direction | Branagh’s directorial approach effectively bridges the gap between theatrical verse and cinematic accessibility. | |
| Score | Patrick Doyle’s operatic score provides a powerful emotional foundation for both the battle sequences and the film’s quieter moments. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay earns acclaim for its intelligent integration of 'Henry IV' material to deepen the protagonist’s narrative arc. | |
| Ending | Opinions on the film's conclusion are divided; some find it a fittingly emotional end, while others feel it succumbs to excessive sentimentality. |