All is True

It's not often that I review a movie on this blog, but I must. I am a huge fan of the classics, of historical films, of classic literature film, of theater. I thought I'd seen just about everything history and Shakespeare worth seeing. But, as it happens, I accidentally stumbled upon a, possible, perfect film of this genre. A film that feels like a true gem of discovery. All is True.

I don't know how much is true in All is True, or how historically accurate the film is. Nor do I know if accuracy is able to be determined at this point. Webpages and writing exist online discussing this very thing, the truth and accuracy of the story; I won't address that here.

Let's focus on the film, the set, the cast. Let's start with this stellar cast, for it is formidable. Kenneth Branagh as Shakespeare is...quiet and human, yet explosive. I'm a fan of Branagh, have been since Much Ado About Nothing, this affection for him despite his overall cheesiness in general. In this role as William Shakespeare, someone who seems larger than life and legendary, Branagh plays the bard as a very human and flawed individual. Comedy and tragedy, in a single man.

Dame Judy Densch as Mrs. Anne Shakespeare. Ian McKennen as the Earl of Southampton. We're talking a stellar cast here. And the set is basically some sylvan, rustic farming villa, the home of William's wife Anne and children at Stratford on Avon. And a garden.

William Shakespeare has retired from his theater competitions with Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Nash, and others at the Globe Theater. He has retired and has moved back to the discomfort and unfamiliarity of his family home, a place where he has only visited for many years, Stratford on Avon. In these, his final years, William must reintegrate with his wife, his two daughters, and all family at the house. When watching the film, at some parts, I recommend pausing the film and going to learn more about William and Anne's children Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet for the more you understand, the more fully satisfying is the story.

As Anne and William begin to settle into their lives together, William is contacted by the Duke of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, alerting William of the Duke's upcoming visit to Stratford. Several of William's popular sonnets are said to be written about his love affair with the Duke, so Anne is less than welcoming to this visitor. These scenes are truly among the best in movie making.

Another ongoing drama in the film, at the end of William's life he is belatedly obsessed with his grief over the loss of his young son from years ago, and William's feelings of sincere loss of his son Hamnet and of Hamnet's writing abilities. William is haunted over this loss, weakened by this belated grief, a grief that blinds him and nearly destroys William and the relationships with his remaining family.

The many familial stories woven into this film of the final days of Shakespeare are wonderful and compelling. The simple humanness of the genius William Shakespeare...I loved the film.
I really did. Eight stars.