All Is True

A rather melancholy account of Shakespeare's declining years in Stratford, though there are a few more cheerful moments to lighten the gloom. Shakespeare comes home to stay after having been mostly absent in London for the past twenty years, still brooding over the death of his son Hamnet, and is given a moderate welcome by his wife Anne (the ever reliable Judi Dench) and his two daughters. There are some amusing references to the 'second best bed' (which Shakespeare famously left his wife in his will) and a rather unlikely plot about some poetry which may or may not have been written by the long dead Hamnet. Meanwhile his daughters have their own problems. It is all a bit sad and slow, but with some pleasant touches that make it worth watching.

This was beautiful in many ways. Lovely photography and music by Patrick Doyle. Well acted of course by Kenneth Branagh and Judy Dench. A very nice screenplay by Ben Elton who is more famous for his comedy writing. He also wrote the wonderful TV series "Upstart Crow" which is a funny view of Shakespeare. This film is much more serious. I don't understand why this film has such a low IMDB rating.

First, its special beauty has as source the status of hommage to William Shakespeare by Kenneth Branagh. If you do not ignore the great adaptations of the plays by Branagh, you understand why "All Is True" is a real special film. Second - for splendid photography . And for magnificent portrait of Anne Hathaway by Dame Judy Dench. And for the moments when the Shakespeare resemblance becomes almost...magic. And the music, off course. And the delicate use of themes.

Sins ? For me , it seems too...didactic. You know the life, you know the plays, you do not forget the verses. And you need a Shakespeare alive, of small gestures, not a package of explanations. I feel the meetings with the Earl of Southampton and Ben Jonson not real inspired used. Cliches, again and again, parts of lessons and something who you know deserves be better.

But, I admitt, I love it. For beauty, with so many faces and sources. And, off course, for "sins". And my old admiration for Kenneth Brannagh is more significant at the end of this film.

The film for large parts is not all that memorable but never the less enjoyable at the same times. At times it is witty, others heartwarming and other times ventures into the darkness of loss and emotional rifts in a family all in a rather understated manner. Yes I may well not remember much about it come the end of the year but for a low budget drama it is excellently acted and very enjoyable indeed without being particularly spectacular.

Branagh seemed stuck with inertia in this period piece as he seemed to consider every sentence before speaking.. However, the rest of the cast were not so dumbstruck and if anything this little tale served to ensure that Shakespeare was first a man of his time and not just a playwrght. Excellent production, but this was rather slow and plodding but was well served by some fine cameos, particularly from Judi Dench and Ian McKellen.