On August 11, 1596, a small coffin was laid to rest in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Famine and bubonic plague were sweeping through Warwickshire and though the cause of death was not listed on the burial register, it has been widely theorised that the eleven-year-old Hamnet was one of the plague’s countless victims. Directed by Chloé Zhao, Hamnet follows a mythologised retelling of the love story between William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and his wife Agnes (Jessie Buckley), the tragic loss of their son Hamnet and how Shakespeare immortalised him with the play Hamlet. The film, based on the Booker Prize winning novel, is a portrait of grief and an exploration of Shakespeare’s family life.
Little is known about the bard’s family – even their names are interchangeable in historical documents. Agnes, referred to as such in her father’s will, is better known as Anne Hathaway throughout history. Author Maggie O’Farrell – who returned to co-write the screenplay with Zhao – presents Agnes as an intuitive woman deeply in touch with the natural world who is therefore seen as an outcast in Tudor England.
Buckley’s performance as Mrs Shakespeare was absolutely entrancing. Her guttural cries of grief sent chills running down my spine. In spite of the film being named after her only son, Agnes is very much the central character. The film opens and closes with her and explores her relationships with her husband and children. So far, Buckley has scooped up the Best Actress award at the Golden Globes, and it wouldn’t be surprising if she takes home further wins.
Multi-layered and thoughtful, it’s simply unforgettable.
William Shakespeare is frequently touted as the greatest writer in the English language. Every student in England has studied at least one of his texts by the time they sit GCSEs. Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Othello are all iconic plays and yet, the average person knows barely anything about the playwright himself. Paul Mescal plays him as a man tormented by the need to create, even if it leads to distance, both physical and emotional, from his family. His quiet devastation at the loss of his son contrasts Agnes’s roars of grief and anger.
Eagle eyed viewers may have noticed that he was only ever referred to as William Shakespeare once in the entire film – when Agnes and her brother seek him in London. Must have been a hell of a plot twist to anyone going into this film completely unaware it was about Shakespeare.
The play Hamlet was first staged between 1599 and 1601, some three to five years after the loss of Hamnet. Though the film does not explicitly tell you how long has passed between Hamnet’s death and the debut of Hamlet, audiences are led to believe that the play is a direct manifestation of the playwright’s grief and a tribute to his son. Historical accuracy isn’t the objective here – creating a deeply moving film is, and Zhao certainly achieved it.
Amongst the supporting cast, Jacobi Jupe stars at the title character Hamnet and is joined by Olivia Lynes as fraternal twin Judith and Bodhi Rae Breathnach as oldest Shakespeare child Susanna. All three were excellent in their short screentime. Some have criticised how little time audiences actually spend with the children, but I thought it was just right. Audiences get to know these children well enough to mourn Hamnet, while also understanding how brief his life was.
Special mention has to go to Max Richter’s score which adds to the quiet devastation of the film. The standout track is his 2004 On The Nature of Daylight – a track that has previously featured in Shutter Island (2010), Arrival (2016) and the third episode of season one of The Last of Us (2023). Whenever I hear those opening notes, I just know I’ll end up bawling my eyes out.
Despite being up against many strong contenders, Hamnet will be walking confidently into the award season. Multi-layered and thoughtful, it’s simply unforgettable.
HAMNET IS PLAYING AT CINEMAS NATIONWIDE
