“Hamnet” review: Chloé Zhao’s Poignant Portrait of Grief and Inspiration
Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet,” released by Focus Features, offers a deeply moving exploration of grief and the creative spark ignited by personal tragedy. The film, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, centers on Agnes (Jessie Buckley), wife of playwright William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), and the devastating loss of their son, Hamnet.
The story unfolds primarily through Agnes’s outlook, depicting her anxieties surrounding omens, loneliness during her husband’s extended absences in London due to plague outbreaks, and the challenges of raising their children. Mescal portrays Shakespeare as a driven poet, even appropriating phrases and observations from Agnes – such as “the undiscovered country” – for his work.
Young Jacobi Jupe delivers a standout performance as Hamnet,capturing the character’s sensitivity and bravery.The film culminates in a powerful depiction of Agnes’s reaction to Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” interpreting the play as a response to her son’s death and a source of profound hurt.
Buckley’s performance is lauded as understated yet emotionally resonant, ensuring the audience feels the weight of Agnes’s accumulated grief. “Hamnet” runs 2 hours and 5 minutes and is rated PG-13 for sexual content,partial nudity,and deaths.
The cast includes Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Jacobi Jupe, Olivia Lynes, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Joe Alwyn, and Emily Watson. Zhao both scripted and directed the film.
