Keep Your Heart Open

Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, Olivia Lynes, Justine Mitchell, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, James Skinner, Noah Jupe, David Wilmot

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"We must never let our guard down. Never take for granted... that our children's hearts beat, that they draw breath, that they walk and speak and... smile, argue, play. Never forget for a moment that they may be gone." - Mary

Why watch this? Stories are best when they take us on a journey rife with happiness and pain.

Plot Summary: Set in 1590s England, the film follows the passionate romance and family life of Agnes and her ambitious playwright husband, William, as they navigate love and marriage in Stratford-upon-Avon. When an unexpected tragedy hits, the couple faces immense, devastating grief that fractures their household.
 

Dad's Preview: Tales set back in the late middle ages remind us how good we have things today. These early populations constantly feared injury, the plague, and fevers that were particularly deadly for children. Yet, people still fell in love and raised families. This lovely film centers on one such couple, Agnes and William. Despite reservations from his parents (they are wary that the forest-loving Agnes is a witch), the pair marry and have three children. The magic here is how director Zhao takes her time in life's moments. This builds our relationships with the characters. When tragedy occurs, it's a literal gut-punch. The film's ending is masterful, a play within a play, that will, very possibly, restore your faith in the human experience.

Hera Pictures, Neal Street Productions, Amblin Entertainment,
Book of Shadows; Focus Features