The Lion in Winter

"All of Britain and half of France were his kingdom. But there was one thing Henry II would never control . . . His Family."

King Henry II keeps his wife Eleanor locked away in the towers because of her frequent attempts to overthrow him. With Eleanor out of the way he can have his dalliances with his young mistress. Needless to say the queen is not pleased, although she still has affection for the king. Working through her sons, she plots the king's demise and the rise of her second and preferred son, Richard, to the throne. The youngest, John, is an overweight buffoon and the only one holding his father's affection is the king's choice after the death of his first son, young Henry. But John is also overly eager for power and is willing to plot his father's demise with middle brother Geoffrey and the young king of France, Phillip. Geoffrey sees his younger brother's weakness and sees that route as his path to power. Political and court intrigue ensues.

Director: Andrei Konchalovsky

Cast

Glenn Close

Eleanor of Aquitaine

Patrick Stewart

King Henry II

Andrew Howard

Richard

A

Antal Konrád

Toastmaster

Rafe Spall

Prince John

John Light

Geoffrey

S

Soma Marko

Young Prince John

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Philip