"Hamnet," the highly anticipated film directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, has finally arrived in theaters, and it's already generating significant buzz for its poignant exploration of love, loss, and the legacy of William Shakespeare. Starring Paul Mescal as William and Jessie Buckley as his wife, Agnes, the film adapts Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed 2020 novel of the same name, delving into the personal tragedy that may have inspired one of the Bard's greatest works, "Hamlet".
The film centers on the death of Shakespeare's 11-year-old son, Hamnet, in 1596 and imagines the impact this devastating loss had on Shakespeare's life and his writing. Scholars have noted that the names "Hamnet" and "Hamlet" were virtually interchangeable in 16th-century England, adding another layer of depth to the story. Zhao's "Hamnet" speculates on the connection between the family's grief and the birth of Shakespeare's iconic play.
Mescal and Buckley, both Irish actors, deliver raw, earthy, and soulful performances that have been hailed as among the best of the year. Many expect Oscar nominations for both. While they appeared in separate timelines in "The Lost Daughter" (2021), "Hamnet" marks the first time Mescal and Buckley have shared the screen. Mescal portrays William as a misunderstood scholar, while Buckley embodies Agnes as a near-outcast, branded a "forest witch" by the villagers. Their connection is palpable, built on a shared understanding and acceptance of each other's unique qualities.
Zhao challenged Mescal and Buckley to embody "extreme masculine and extreme feminine" energies in their roles. She wanted to find the common humanity that transcends time, gender, and social status, and bring that to the forefront of the story.
The film spends considerable time portraying William and Agnes's early courtship. William is drawn to Agnes's strangeness and individuality, which informs much of their domestic life. The film also stars Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Olivia Lynes, and Jacobi Jupe as the couple's children, Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet, respectively. Noah Jupe, Jacobi's older brother, appears as Hamlet in the play-within-a-film.
While some critics have found the film's emotional intensity overwhelming, particularly Buckley's portrayal of grief, others praise the film as an earthy and poetic tale of love and loss. The lush cinematography, evocative score, and immersive sound design contribute to the film's sensory impact, creating a heightened and unsettling atmosphere. The film's final act explores the power of art to transform personal sorrow into something universal, as the Shakespeare's tragedy becomes one of the most enduring works of art in history.
