History,Thriller,Drama
Germany,United Kingdom,United States of America
"Anonymous" is a British period drama film directed by Roland Emmerich and written by John Orloff. It was released in 2011 and stars Rhys Ifans as Edward De Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, who is portrayed as the real author of William Shakespeare's plays.
The movie takes place in the late 16th century and early 17th century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It argues that De Vere, who was a highly educated nobleman and patron of the arts, wrote the popular plays and sonnets attributed to Shakespeare. The movie suggests that Shakespeare was a frontman used by De Vere to protect his anonymity and that the plays were written as a form of political commentary.
The film explores the volatile political atmosphere of the time, including the Essex Rebellion in 1601, which was an attempt to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I by Robert Devereux, the 2nd Earl of Essex. The movie proposes that De Vere's plays, which often included themes of political intrigue and rebellion, were directly influenced by the events that were happening around him.
In addition to Ifans, the film features Vanessa Redgrave as the older Queen Elizabeth I, and Joely Richardson as the younger Queen Elizabeth I. The movie received mixed reviews from critics, but was praised for its imaginative cinematic approach to the mystery of Shakespeare's authorship.
