Masterful Storytelling

Rating: 8/10 (20 November 2019)

Hal (TimothÃ©e Chalamet), disgraced eldest prince of England, whose disdain for the disingenuous nature of politics has rendered the reluctant heir to the English throne. Hal, having turned his back on royal life, choosing instead to live amongst the people in disgrace, as a philandering outcast. Hal is put in the unenviable position of assuming the English crown despite having tried valiantly to protect his undeserving and unprepared brother whom he presumably loved, and who was favored by his tyrannical father, and birthed the crown. When both his brother and father die, England looks to Hal to be crowned King Henry V. He is then required to embrace the life he had endeavored to escape. This film does a brilliant job of showing the many obstacles the young king must confront. From palace politics and internal betrayals, to chaotic inter-kingdom disputes, the young King Henry must confront the feuds his tyrannical father left behind while balancing the needs of his subjects with the emotional strings his past life have left to him. The relationship with his closest friend and mentor, the now alcoholic knight, John Falstaff (Joel Edgerton) conspires to portray this coming-of-age story of a king at the helm of a kingdom on the brink of war, faced with the daunting challenge of making a name for himself, securing peace for his kingdom, all while remaining true to himself and honoring the virtues he understands to be he and his people's only saving grace. This story is masterfully written and acted. It does a wonderful job of leaving the task of deciphering its ethical conundrums and moral underpinnings to the interpretation of the audience. Wonderfully done, all around.