The usual version of what happened between Queen Elizabeth I of England and her cousin Queen Mary of Scotland goes something like this: England is Protestant under Elizabeth’s rule, and Mary grew up in France and is Catholic. The two are bitter rivals. When the people of Scotland rebel against hot-headed Mary, she appeals to Elizabeth for support. But she gets suspected of plotting to kill Elizabeth. Mary is then decapitated.
The new movie “Mary Queen of Scots” explores a more psychologically and politically nuanced take on the story -- that perhaps Mary and Elizabeth were affectionate cousins who wanted to forge an alliance, but were pushed to conflict by the power-hungry men around them.