1580 England. Impoverished Latin tutor William Shakespeare meets free-spirited Agnes, and the pair, captivated by one another, strike up a torrid affair that leads to marriage and three children. Yet as Will pursues a budding theatre career in far-away London, Agnes anchors the domestic sphere alone. When tragedy strikes, the couple’s once-unshakable bond is tested, but their shared experience sets the stage for the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

The Garden Cinema View:

Chloé Zhao roars back to form with this handsome (not just Paul Mescal) and heartfelt tale of Tudor romance, witchcraft, theatre, and grief. The establishing scenes are magical. As is Zhao’s signature style, the natural landscapes seem to breathe with life. Interior sequences are shot in painterly geometrical framings, with cinematographer Łukasz Żal bringing some of visual sensibility of his work on The Zone of Interest (don’t worry, similarities end there). The narrative sags a little in the middle, heavy with loss, and feeling the absence of the playwright, even as Jessie Buckley’s performance remains impressive. The conclusion soars, however, and proves that the play is truly the thing.

Cast:
Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Jacobi Jupe, Joe Alwyn