A heavily-made-up Kenneth Branagh stars as Shakespeare, who returns to his home after the Globe Theatre burns down. Once there, he attempts to deal with the death of his only son, while trying to mend the relationships with his wife (Judi Dench) and remaining daughters. This film captures the period with beautiful cinematography, a quiet pace and sometimes extended wide shots of dialogue. The sluggish tempo allows plenty of time to absorb the mise en scene, but it also strains interest. The performances are interesting and the story presents a fascinating part  of The Bard’s life, but the objective approach (thanks partially to director Branagh) keeps the film from ever grabbing hold.

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