Henry V

Kenneth Branagh makes his directorial debut and also plays the title role in HENRY V, an ambitious film that began a resurgence of interest in films of Shakespeare's plays. Henry is a young king seeking a way to make his mark on history. He gets his chance when he learns he can make a legal claim to the throne of France. He does, and arrives in France with a small army that soon meets with violent resistance from the French. The film follows Henry and his men through the brutality of 15th-century warfare as the ragtag band confronts heavy opposition and their own destinies on a rainy French battlefield. The film expertly balances the thrilling heroics of the battle sequences with the painful and complex reactions of men who are sometimes unsure of the justice of their cause. True to Shakespeare's original text, an unnamed Chorus (Derek Jacobi) appears periodically, filling in details and offering a running commentary on the action. Featuring a cast that includes Ian Holm, Paul Scofield, Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane, Christian Bale and many other screen stars, HENRY V is a rousing, fascinating film about the power of courage and the price of glory.