Hamnet
HAMNET (12)
D: Chloe Zhao
Focus Features / Hera Pictures / Neal Street / Amblin / Book of Shadows (Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg & Sam Mendes)
UK/US 🇬🇧🇺🇸 2025
126 mins
Drama
W: Chloe Zhao & Maggie O’Farrell [based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell]
DP: Lukasz Zal
Ed: Chloe Zhao & Affonso GonçalvesÂ
Mus: Max Richter
PD: Fiona Crombie
Cos: Malgosia Turzanska
Jessie Buckley (Agnes Shakespeare), Paul Mescal (William Shakespeare), Emily Watson (Mary Shakespeare), Joe Alwyn (Bartholomew Hathaway), Jacobi Jupe (Hamnet Shakespeare), Olivia Lynes (Judith Shakespeare)
*SPOILERS*
I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a rare thing for me to enjoy a period drama, but I usually Shakespeare’s works, however, this is really a fictionalised story about Shakespeare’s family, rather than an adaptation of one of his works, even though there are some references to them.  I would say that it’s a film best experienced the less you know about it, and just knowing that it’s about William Shakespeare and his wife is more than sufficient.
Set in the late 1500s, a young William Shakespeare is enamoured with Agnes, a young woman who the locals believe is the daughter of a forest witch.  Nevertheless, an attraction develops between the two of them and they wed after she becomes pregnant.
When she is pregnant again, with twins, William Shakespeare has travelled to London for his work, and Agnes gives birth to Hamnet & Judith, the latter of which she initially believes is stillborn, but rouses awake when Agnes reminisces about her own mother’s death during childbirth.
As the children grow, Judith contracts a fever and young Hamnet prays for his sacrifice for her to get better, which tragically transpires.
Struggling with the loss of one of her children, Agnes travels to London to see that William is living in abject poverty, despite having the largest house back home in Stratford, and subsequently visits the Globe Theatre, presenting the play, named Hamlet, which Agnes is initially offended by, before realising that it is a tribute to their late child.
Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, it’s a period piece where the performances truly shine, especially from Jessie Buckley who swept the board come awards season, including the Best Actress Oscar, and while Paul Mescal was recognised at many awards shows in the Supporting Actor category, he was quite criminally snubbed at the Oscars.
Chloe Zhao’s direction captures the period well, and there’s some truly beautiful shots, including the opening moments, and the captivating vistas are complemented by Max Richter’s rich and haunting music score.
A heartbreaking film about heartbreak, grief and ultimately, acceptance, which is quite slow moving, but it’s certainly worth watching for the performances alone.
8/10
