This PG-13 romance, historical fiction film was taken from the novel written by Maggie O’Farrell. It’s a fictional account of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway’s birth of twins.
O’Farrell wrote from experience citing her fear of losing her own child at age 4. She herself suffered when she was 8 with encephalitis.
Director Chloe Zhao has an outstanding group of actors supporting his 8 Oscar nominations. They are Jessie Buckly as Agnes; Paul Mescal as Will; Emily as Mary; Joe Alwyn as Bartholomew and Jacobi Jupe as Hamnet.
William and Anne were married quite young outside of their home parish. Anne was pregnant and had Susanna 6 months after the wedding. William left for London shortly after the twins were born. At a young age Hamnet got very ill and died in 1596 at 11 years old. At this point, the movie focuses on the parents loss of their son.
Jessie Buckley does an astounding portrayal of grief.
Zhao’s fictional story has overwhelmed festival audiences with emotion, leaving viewers and critics alike in ”puddles of sobs” wrote critic Roger Ebert. The setting, cinematography, and music are magnificent, the acting is superb, and I give this old English film a 5! Definitely worth seeing!
