A difficult film to watch, featuring beautiful locations and performances that are both emotional and bone-chilling. A mother must deal with raising her children alone now that her husband has had to leave for London for work. The twist? Her husband is William Shakespeare. The movie takes place almost entirely in the English countryside, where we witness the birth of the relationship between Agnes and William. Based on the novel of the same name, Hamnet is a portrait of 16th-century life filled with romance and drama—plenty of drama. The performances are the standout element of the film; while the chemistry between the couple is good, it was the relationship with the children that truly moved me. The work of director and screenwriter Chloé Zhao is marvelous. It is definitely one of the best of last year and could very well take home the Oscar for Best Picture.