The best movie of the year has arrived- and it’s an adaptation of the story of the inspiration of the iconic play Hamlet. Let me break that down. Hamnet is a novel written by Maggie O’Farrell, and it is a historical fiction novel that tells the love story of Agnes Hathaway and William Shakespeare. I haven’t read the book, but based on the film, I can tell you it must be one of the most beautiful novels ever written.
Chloé Zao, Oscar-winning director, adapted the screenplay with author Maggie O’Farrell, and directed the film with utmost grace. The film is a heartbreaking look at the story of Agnes and Will, meeting, marrying, raising a family, and losing their young son, Hamnet. This loss would go on to inspire one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, Hamlet, and Zao gives us an emotionally crushing look at how it came to be.
A beautiful cast and backdrop
Playing Agnes is the extremely talented Jessie Buckley, who finally gets her chance to shine in a proper leading role. While she’s led movies before, this is the perfect opportunity for her to really show her depth and skill. She inhabits the role of Agnes like her life depends on it, giving us every emotion on the spectrum. There are scenes in which she plumbs the depths of sadness like no other actress before.
Paul Mescal, recent Hollywood heart-throb, plays the Bard within an inch of his life. An equally shattering performance, Mescal pours himself into this role, matching Buckley’s intense and fiery energy. He is the perfect choice to play Shakespeare for the here and now, bringing both star power and an intense, harrowing performance, as he tends to do so well.
This is the best onscreen romance I have seen in a long time, and it will be very hard to beat. If you don’t care about these two beautiful people by the end of the film, you must have no soul. The relationship goes through leaps and bounds, and while watching their story unfold you will be equally delighted and emotionally crushed.
Back in time
With a perfect pair of leads, Zao also had to make sure this period piece is picture perfect, and it certainly is. The locations, set design, costuming, and dialogue are tuned in perfectly to the late 1500s. I felt truly transported back in time watching this film, as every shot captures a different aspect of life as it was back then. The scenery is gorgeous, and the cast rounded out with perfectly 1500s-looking actors.
Tragedy reaps tragedy
Of course, the film is centered around the tragic loss of the couple’s son, Hamnet. Even knowing this going into the film, it was nonetheless soul-crushing to watch on the big screen. I sobbed. We sobbed. The entire theater was sniffling at times. The film was so utterly moving and powerful from moment to moment. I simply can’t remember the last time I was this emotional at the movie theater.
I’m privileged enough to work at the Dedham Community Theatre, where we are currently playing Hamnet, and where I get to talk about it at length with audiences going to see it. Those who have read the book all say that the film does it justice. And almost everyone leaves the theater with tears in their eyes.
What’s most beautiful about the film, in my eyes, is the way we see William Shakespeare’s grief transformed into art.
From Hamnet to Hamlet
This film is also party to the most phenomenal child acting I have seen, possibly ever. While all of the children play their parts perfectly, Jacobi Jupe is the heart and soul of the story, playing young Hamnet. As we see him onscreen, we are constantly crestfallen just knowing what is about to come.
The entire picture has a very mystical feel to it, which I’ve heard is touched on at length in the novel. Agnes has a certain spiritual gift passed down to her from her mother, and her mother before her. This no doubt inspired parts of Shakespeare’s more fantastical aspects of his plays. But it’s Hamnet’s death that inspired one of the most renowned plays of all time.
What the film does, at the end of the day, and what I’m sure the novel does as well, is speak to how important art is. When dealing with great loss, grief, or unbearable pain, it feels like there is no way out. William Shakespeare created something beautiful to honor his lost son, his wife, and his entire family. When you see the spectacle of a story being brought to life- it’s almost too much. And Zao understands this, greatly.
Movies that move us
Preferably, I go to the movies to laugh, or be excited. I love action films, comedies, and horror films, of course. But now and then, you see something that shakes you to your core, something that reminds you both how devastating and beautiful life can be.
This story is a singular one, but should prove to be one that anyone can see and respond to. Its heart beats like no other film I’ve seen this year, its soul is on full display, and it holds nothing back. Buckley and Mescal give everything they can to make this experience as unforgettable as possible.
When watching the couple experience love, loss, anger, pain, grief, joy, and fear, we feel it. This is why we make movies. This is why we go to the theater. So we can feel. So we can remember what it means to feel. When life is hard, complicated, and confusing, we can go to a place with others to experience something like never before. Hamnet is one of the most beautiful films ever made, and it is here to make us feel absolutely everything.
Go see Hamnet. It’s playing in theaters now.
