Michael Aparicio

I'm not in a position to assess Firebrand's account of history. Did it misrepresent important details? I don't know. Obviously the movie's account of Henry's death is speculative. I'm guessing some other details are, too. So what? It's not history. It's an artistic imagining of what might have been. And it was a moving one. It helped me imagine how Katherine Parr's ordeal and faith could have set the stage for Edward's, Anne's and especially Elizabeth's reigns. As the movie points out, we're often left to imagine what role women (and other marginalized people) played in history. Art can help us do that. A fine script and wonderful performances. I'm looking forward to watching it again.

A captivating unraveling story. The heroic family at the center of the story faces different challenges to their moral integrity and faith. Of course, the plot is moved by the central character's ordeals with corrupt authorities: the Nazis, the Catholic Church, even his local mayor. But he, his wife, and even his kids suffer through their neighbors' need for conformity. He's repeatedly asked if he expects his protest to impact others. What the movie shows without announcing is that his struggle is internal. He endures his tests and keeps his integrity. It's an emotionally draining film that left me wondering how difficult it must have been for MLK, Gandhi, Thoreau, or Socrates. And its focus on his marriage highlights ways in which her character and faith are tested, too. It's a touching, thoughtful, beautiful film. Masterful!

A touching portrayal of the frail humanity embodying genius. I left the theater realizing there is much we don't and won't know about the man, and yet feeling like I know him and his family more intimately than I previously imagined possible. The details aren't what's most important. It's a celebration of his and our humanity. Much like Shakespeare's plays.