Bow to No One|Dec. 07, 2018|United Kingdom | United States|124 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;History
Description: Mary Queen of Scots is a 2018 historical drama film that follows the riveting story of Mary Stuart, the Catholic Queen of Scotland. At nineteen, Mary returns to her homeland after the death of her husband, King Francis II of France, to claim her throne. Her arrival is met with tension, particularly from her half-brother, the Earl of Moray. Meanwhile, in England, her cousin Elizabeth I, the Protestant Queen, faces her own challenges as an unmarried and childless ruler, feeling threatened by Mary’s potential claim to her throne.
Mary’s presence stirs controversy, especially with John Knox, a leading figure in the Scottish Reformation, who views her as a threat to Protestant dominance. Elizabeth, seeking to neutralize Mary’s claim, arranges for her to marry Robert Dudley, a man Elizabeth secretly loves. However, both Mary and Dudley resist the idea. When Elizabeth contracts smallpox, Mary agrees to the marriage on the condition that she is named Elizabeth’s heir apparent.
Elizabeth, reluctant to part with Dudley, sends Lord Darnley to Scotland under the guise of religious freedom. Though Mary suspects Elizabeth’s intentions, she develops feelings for Darnley and accepts his proposal. This decision sparks a constitutional crisis in both England and Scotland. Elizabeth’s advisors fear Darnley’s influence will strengthen Mary’s claim to the English throne, while Mary’s council worries about an English takeover.
Mary’s marriage to Darnley leads to further complications. She discovers his infidelity with her private secretary, David Rizzio, yet manages to quell a rebellion led by Moray without harming Darnley or Rizzio. Mary demands that Darnley father her child, and when she becomes pregnant, she boldly declares the child as the heir to both Scotland and England, a statement that angers the English court. The film captures the intricate power struggles, personal rivalries, and political tensions of this turbulent period in history.
Cast director: Alex Oakley
Cast actor: Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, David Tennant, Guy Pearce, Gemma Chan, Martin Compston, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Brendan Coyle
Original name: Mary Queen of Scots