THE ASSASSINATION OF HENRY IV

Cinemavixion Review

Jacques Malaterre's 2009 "The Assassination of Henry IV" offers a focused, albeit brief, glimpse into the final hours of a pivotal French monarch. The film centers on King Henry IV's personal desires and political pressures on May 14th, 1610, the day of his assassination by the zealot Ravaillac. Despite warnings and the turbulent atmosphere of Paris, Henry IV is portrayed as driven by his pursuit of a loved one, navigating the city's dangers without a retinue. The narrative suggests that his death, orchestrated by radical elements seeking to inflame religious tensions between Catholics and Protestants, paradoxically paved the way for a period of reconciliation. While the film's scope is limited, it highlights the complex interplay of personal affection and public duty on the precipice of historical change.