Hamnet
Many people are probably unaware that William Shakespeare and his wife had a son Hamnet, who died of the plague at the age of eleven. Shakespeare’s most famous play, “Hamlet,” is named after – and dedicated to – his late son. Chloe Zhao’s new film “Hamnet” recreates the tragedy of his loss, and its effect on Shakespeare and his wife Agnes.
Historical account
Co-written by Zhao and author Maggie O’Farrell (who wrote the 2020 novel upon which this film is based), “Hamnet” follows the early courtship of William – a young professor and scholar in rural 16th Century England – and Agnes, a beautiful but odd young woman who spends much of her time alone in the woods. Adept at falconry — almost exclusively a male sport during this time period – some of the locals believe Agnes to be the daughter of a mysterious forest witch. We later learn Agnes was just a young girl when she lost her mother; perhaps to the plague, which was still claiming lives two centuries after it first ravaged Europe.
“Hamnet” follows the Shakespeare family through the birth of their daughter, Susanna, and then their twins, Judith and Hamnet. By the time the twins are born, William is spending most of his time in London writing and directing plays at the Globe Theatre. But William and young Hamnet share a special bond, as fathers and sons often do. William always tells his son to “be brave” as he departs the rural family home.
Grief and loss
But “Hamnet” is so much more than a basic historic account. Yes, this is an interesting narrative, and many of us are unfamiliar with (or have long forgotten) the details of Shakespeare’s life. “Hamnet” is a story of grief and loss – making it the second excellent film this year covering this touchy subject. Scarlett Johansson’s “Eleanor the Great” is the other.
Jessie Buckley
The real star of “Hamnet” is the great Jessie Buckley as Agnes. When William journeys to London, Zhao’s focus stays on Agnes, the kids, her brother, and William’s mother (played by renowned British actress Emily Watson). Only late in the screenplay do we witness William working with his actors at The Globe – and then only to see him beg his actors to show more passion in their presentations of this work he holds so dear.
To say that Jessie Buckley is one of our greatest young actresses is an understatement. Her performance as a wannabe country singer in 2018’s “Wild Rose” still stands as one of the greatest musical tour-de-forces of the past decade – rivaling Lady Gaga’s turn in “A Star is Born” the year before. She’s held her own in a wide variety of roles since then, many in ensemble works like 2022’s “Women Talking.” But here, she has the opportunity to carry a film for the first time since “Wild Rose.” And again, she turns in one of the best performances of the year.
Heartbreaking yet reaffirming
For a character not given to soliloquys, or even effusive speech at all – I know, the irony that she’s married to Shakespeare! – we feel her pain during her times of loss. In a flashback scene, we experience her anguish upon losing her mother. And we recoil with her bereavement upon losing young Hamnet. But her finest achievement comes during the premiere performance of “Hamlet” in London, as Agnes encounters the specter of her son as the drama unfolds before her. “Hamnet” is at once heartbreaking (in the sense of pure loss) but also reaffirming. We feel the resurgence in Agnes’ life as she endures her husband’s work.
When Hamnet perishes, William isn’t even present. He’s returning from another stint in London. And we never get the sense the death affects him as deeply as it does Agnes. But, as is often common among those with great talent, William shows his despair through his work. It is his creativity which helps him through trying times. As William, Paul Mescal (so great a couple years ago in “All of Us Strangers”) doesn’t seem to have his heart into this material to the degree Buckley does. And that’s the point. Mescal shows his acting chops during the rehearsal and performance scenes.
Rest of the cast
Also making a very strong showing is young Jacobi Jupe, whose expressive demeanor accents each of his scenes. Jupe’s excellent turn rivals that of Daniel Lamont in 2024’s “Nowhere Special” as the best child performance so far this decade. Ironically, Jupe’s older brother Noah (“Wonder,” “A Quiet Place”) plays the adult Hamlet character in The Globe production. That the two young men look so similar is not lost on Agnes. William has obviously chosen an actor who reminds him of his own son, had he had the opportunity to live a full life.
Chloe Zhao
And what an interesting directorial choice this is for Chloe Zhao – a director whose previous work places us into worlds with which most of us are unfamiliar, and peppers her cast with non-actors. 2017’s “The Rider” used many untrained actors in a contemporary western. 2020’s Oscar winner “Nomadland” starred Frances McDormand and a cast of actual nomads to tell the story of a woman living out of her van in the American West. Therefore, “Hamnet” would seem out of character for Zhao, save for the fact that most of us have never experienced the level of loss endured by the characters here.
Film allows us to grieve
“Hamnet” may sound like a downer of a movie. And again, it is heartbreaking. This film deals with loss. And Jessie Buckley’s pain is agonizing to watch. But again, “Hamnet” is also life affirming. This is a film which allows those who have experienced similar calamity to find solace. To “let it all out” again. To understand that none of us is ever alone in our grief. “Hamnet” is an important film. And another of this year’s crowning achievements.
Andy Ray‘s reviews also appear on https://townepost.com/tag/film-review/