Hamnet, at its core, is a story about suffering and silence. It is also a story of perseverance, maternal ferocity, and human connection. Through mesmerizing visuals and striking performances, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao tells the powerful story that inspired Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet. Hamnet is an emotional tour de force that will have you longing for your mother’s embrace.

Born From Pain, Birthing an Artistic Masterpiece

Hamnet takes place in the 16th century in rural England. Paul Mescal plays William Shakespeare, a struggling Latin tutor who is besotted with Agnes (Jessie Buckley), a free-spirited outsider. They are each other’s twin flames, who quickly marry and start a family. Their relationship is unconventional but strong; their mutual support encourages harmony and love inside and outside of the home. Always fond of William’s writing, Agnes inspires her husband to pursue his creative ambitions in London, so William takes the opportunity, delves into the theater, and quickly becomes a successful playwright.

Watch the Hamnet trailer here.

Back home, Agnes feels his absence tremendously. Their children, Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet, particularly mourn his presence. Agnes does the best she can to keep her children happy and healthy, but when a horrific tragedy strikes, her maternal fortitude and confidence are shaken to the core. Agnes and William’s once-unwavering bond is put to the test, as well as their roles of spouse and caretaker. However, William turns this shared pain into art as he sets the stage for the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

To Be or Not to Be

Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, The Rider) knows how to sensitively observe moments of deep reflection, and the same is true here. While the film is a slow burn, the journey is never dull. Beautiful cinematography by DP Łukasz Żal brings this old English world to life in vivid detail. Aiding in the emotional storytelling is a quietly stirring score by composer Max Richter. Yes, it is a bit overplayed to sync one of his most famous works, On The Nature of Daylight, in the finale scene, but Hamnet can get away with it. The final pieces of the puzzle are the phenomenal performances by Buckley and Mescal. Raw, animalistic, and deeply human all at once, they give the film a life well beyond the two-hour runtime. Their intensity will stay with you for a long time.

Director Statement

Says Chloé Zhao: “I don’t often have words to describe why I choose a project. I’m often guided by instinct, a tight pull on my heart center. Stories appear in my life as if they have chosen me, and I have no choice but to surrender to them. Hamnet came into my life like a whisper that grew into a hurricane. By the end of the journey, I was tenderized. I had truly experienced what it feels like to live with an open heart in the eye of a storm – the beauty, the pain, the thrill at the edge of annihilation, and the silence.”

Takeaway

Universally considered an early awards contender following its debut at the Telluride Film Festival, Hamnet is poetic cinema. It dutifully crafts a complex tale of love, loss, and the healing power of art and creativity.