1580, England. The impoverished William Shakespeare meets the free-spirited Agnes and becomes entangled in a passionate affair that ultimately leads to marriage and three children. Yet, while Will is forging his budding acting career in distant London, Agnes must hold things together at home on her own. When tragedy strikes, the couple’s once-unshakable bond is put to the test, but their shared experiences lay the foundation for Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet. Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao’s new film is a sensitive portrayal of the complexities of love and the healing power of art.

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Supported by Visa.
The screening was made possible with the support of the British Council.

Toronto Film Festival 2025 - Audience Award

Chloé Zhao was born in Beijing, studied at Brighton College in England, and graduated from Mount Holyoke College in Los Angeles with a degree in political science and film theory. Her feature debut, Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015), premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, earning critical acclaim. The Rider (2017) also received widespread critical praise, but Zhao gained international recognition with the American film Nomadland (2020), for which she served as writer, producer, editor, and director. The film won numerous prestigious awards, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and received four Academy Award nominations, with Zhao winning Best Picture and Best Director – the latter making her only the second woman and the first woman of color to receive the award.

Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015)
The Rider (2017)
Nomadland (2020)
Eternals (2021)

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Director: Chloé Zhao
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson
Cinematography: Lukasz Zal
Screenwriter: Maggie O’Farrell, Chloé Zhao
Producer: Pippa Harris, Lisa Marshall, Sam Mendes, Steven Spielberg
Editor: Affonso Gonçalves, Chloé Zhao
Music: Max Richter
Hungarian Distributor: UIP-Duna Film
Colour: colour
min: 125 mins

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