The King 2006

As the 15th century dawned on England, Prince of Wales Henry V (Timothee Chalamet) continued his life of indulgence and camaraderie with trusted friend John Falstaff (Joel Edgerton), much to the dismay of his father King Henry IV (Ben Mendelsohn). The ailing monarch’s condition worsened, and in a last-ditch effort, he decreed that his younger son Thomas (Dean-Charles Chapman) would ascend to the throne upon his passing, rather than Henry himself. Henry V was less than thrilled with this turn of events.

The sudden rise of Percy (Tom Glynn-Carney)-led rebellion against King Henry IV caught everyone off guard. With his brother Thomas still in his teenage years and ill-equipped to lead a battalion into battle, Henry V implored him to let him challenge Percy to a one-on-one duel, hoping to avoid further bloodshed. Despite initial reservations, Thomas agreed, but Henry V emerged victorious, quashing the rebellion and leaving his brother feeling overshadowed.

As news of Thomas’s untimely demise spread, King Henry IV drew his final breaths, bestowing upon Henry V the weighty responsibility of kingship. At his coronation, a plethora of gifts from far-flung lands poured in, including a ball from France that would spark controversy and fuel the fires of war.

Henry’s sister Phillipa (Thomasin McKenzie) cautioned him to be wary of those within his inner circle, while William Gascoigne (Sean Harris), one of the king’s most trusted advisors, kept him apprised of Thomas’s untimely passing. The French gift, perceived as a mocking gesture by Henry’s court, only fueled the whispers of war with France, which Henry V had little stomach for.

However, William soon presented Henry with a French assassin claiming to have been dispatched by King Louis himself to take out the English monarch. Meanwhile, Cambridge (Edward Ashley) and another loyal ally secretly approached William with concerns about Henry’s leadership, only to be brutally silenced when Henry ordered their executions and declared war on France.

With his trust in his council eroded, Henry V turned to Falstaff, a battle-hardened veteran of the wars, to join his council. Together, they set out for France, securing key strongholds early on. The Dauphin (Robert Pattinson), Prince of France, met with Henry in a summit that devolved into vitriolic insults and mocking jabs, rather than surrender. In response, the Dauphin executed several British children as a warning to Henry V.

Enraged by this atrocity, Henry ordered the summary execution of all French prisoners, but Falstaff’s counsel stayed his hand, urging caution in the face of escalating tensions.

As the British forces confront the behemoth French army, Henry is cautioned by advisors to retreat, faced with overwhelming odds. However, Falstaff remains resolute in his conviction that they can emerge victorious, citing the impending rainstorm as a crucial factor in their favor. He points out that the French will be forced to charge downhill, their armor and horses entangled in the mud, rendering them vulnerable. Henry, undeterred by the daunting prospects, decides that if the skies open up, he will lead his troops into battle. And so, the heavens obligingly unleash a torrential downpour, as Falstaff, driven by his unyielding enthusiasm, takes charge of the initial assault.

Henry’s final meeting with the Dauphin precedes the commencement of hostilities. He proposes a one-on-one duel to spare the lives of their men, but the French monarch demands an unconditional surrender instead. The battle rages on, with Henry delivering a stirring oration that galvanizes his troops for the second wave. As the carnage mounts, the Dauphin finally agrees to Henry’s challenge, only to find himself bogged down in the mud, weighed down by his armor. Henry seizes the opportunity, signaling to his men to take their opponent, and they dispatch him.

Following this decisive victory, Henry is met with a somber discovery: the lifeless body of Falstaff on the battlefield. Later, he meets with the King of France to negotiate a peace treaty between their nations. As part of the agreement, Henry is offered the hand of Catherine (Lily-Rose Depp), the king’s daughter, in marriage. However, as they prepare for their union, Catherine subjects Henry to a probing interrogation about the bloodshed and devastation caused by his actions. Henry reveals that he was driven by a perceived assassination attempt against him by his own father, which she vehemently denies. Confronting William, he uncovers the truth: the attempted murder was staged as a means of provoking Henry into taking action against France, ultimately achieving the goal of uniting England under his rule.

William, now on bended knee, confesses to having orchestrated this ploy to secure Henry’s desired outcome. In a fit of rage and betrayal, Henry stabs William to death. Returning to Catherine, he implores her to promise him one thing: honesty above all else. She agrees, sealing their union with a vow to always be truthful with each other.