A FALCON, a contemporary take on a Shakespearean tragedy and a celebration of one of the greatest singer-songwriters provide the picks of spring and early summer for Moviola audiences.

Laden with awards, the film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 acclaimed novel, Hamnet, focuses on William Shakespeare’s wife Agnes, an unconventional Tudor woman, with a mysterious background and great skills as a healer and herbalist. The book, and the film, follow the romance between the glover’s son and the wealthy farmer’s daughter, Agnes’s life in Stratford when her husband goes to London, and the terrible plague that almost kills her daughter Judith and does kill Judith’s twin brother Hamnet. The story explores Agnes’s grief – and anger at William – culminating at a performance of Hamlet at the Globe, where she begins to understand how her husband has channelled his own grief into his greatest play.

Jessie Buckley as Agnes gives a performance so compelling that it can only be called spell-binding. You cannot take your eyes off her. The children also give marvellous performances, and Joe Alwyn as Agnes’s brother and Emily Watson as her mother-in-law are powerful supports. Paul Mescal feels mis-cast as William – too modern and too ripped (somehow one doubts that the Bard of Avon had a second life as a gladiator). He is undoubtedly “box office” in the current jargon, but is not convincing here.

In May, Hamnet is on screen at Moviola venues in Hanging Langford, South Petherton (David Hall), Shrewton, Shepton Montague, Frogham, Hawkchurch and West Camel (Davis Hall). There are many more screenings in June and July.

For dates and locations, see the Arts Diary. For more information on films and timings, visit www.moviola.org

H is for Hawk, starring Claire Foy, is an adaptation of Helen Macdonald’s 2014 memoir. The winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize and Costa Book of the Year award, among others, it is the story of the year she spent training a Eurasian goshawk in the wake of her father’s sudden death. Having been a falconer for many years, she purchased a young goshawk to help her through the grieving process.

H is for Hawk is at South Petherton (David Hall), Codford St Peter (Woolstore Theatre), Bransgore, Charlton Marshall, Edington (Somerset), Castle Cary (Caryford Hall), Norton St Philip and Halstock.

Song Sung Blue, written, produced and directed by Craig Brewer, is based on a 2008 documentary film of the same name by Greg Kohs. It stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as the real life Mike and Claire Sardina, who performed as the Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder.

Catch this touching story, which is also a celebration of Neil Diamond’s great songs, at Bourton, Chilthorne Domer, Pewsey (Bouverie Hall), Winterslow, Hardington Mandeville, Harnham (Sports and Social Club, Salisbury) and Nunney.

The other May films with Moviola are:
Rental Family at Kingsbury Episcopi, Nether Wallop and Leigh (near Sherborne);
One Battle After Another at Yetminster (Jubilee Hall), Chard (Guildhall) and Bishopstone (Salisbury);
The Choral at Cucklington, Somerton (Parish Rooms), Whitchurch and Mere (Lecture Hall)
and the powerful documentary, The Shepherd and the Bear, at South Petherton (David Hall).