From about 1585 to 1592, nobody knows what the hell a certain Bard-to-be was up to. Due to a lack of clear documentation, that period of Shakespeare’s life is often referred to as his “lost years.” For centuries, historians have floated numerous theories both mundane and extraordinary as to how Will busied himself in the immediate period after leaving his wife and children in Stratford-upon-Avon, but none have offered concrete evidence. A new European film suggests that Shakespeare traveled to the continent and found himself in direct contact with the great Spanish writer Cervantes.

The idea is certainly intriguing, as Shakespeare and Cervantes were contemporaries. Coincidentally, they also died on the same date (April 23, 1616; though it was not the same day, as Spain and England followed slightly different calendar systems). Ultimately, I think the film points to a larger need to mythologize Shakespeare and other historical and literary figures. Like his doomed British contemporary Christopher Marlowe, Shakespeare has sometimes been theorized as having been involved in espionage; that his “lost years” were lost on purpose. While meeting with other luminaries or risking life and limb for the Crown are not implausible suggestions, there is a certain fanboy quality to them, regardless (or perhaps because) of how well-researched they are. After all, would his achievements be any less noteworthy if in other aspects of his life, Will from Stratford was, well, ordinary?