‘Hamnet’ Review: Chloé Zhao Crafts a Haunting, Lyrical Tale of Love and Loss

3 weeks ago 26

'Hamnet': A poetic and heart-wrenching adaptation that turns Shakespeare’s personal tragedy into cinematic gold.

Penned by author Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet is one of the best-selling novels of the 2020s, selling over 2 million copies worldwide. It is a historical fiction that re-imagines the life and death of William Shakespeare’s son Hamnet, and how he may have inspired the famous tragedy Hamlet. It changes things up by putting wife Agnes front and centre, focusing on the grief of a mother after losing a child. Starring in the titular role is young Jacobi Jupe (Peter Pan & Wendy), with Paul Mescal (Gladiator II) and Jessie Buckley (I’m Thinking of Ending Things) playing William and Agnes, respectively. Beautifully adapted by filmmaker Chloé Zhao, Hamnet is a simultaneously gentle yet devastating story of grief and loss, guided by award-worthy performances.

Within the first few frames, it’s clear to see that Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) was the perfect filmmaker to bring this story to life. Despite perhaps simplifying a couple of elements with the run-time in mind, and missing out a few sequences that fans of the book will notice, it’s a beautiful adaptation that effortlessly captures the mood, tone, and themes O’Farrell was highlighting. The characters go from page to screen flawlessly, each one developed well enough for us to really know them, particularly our main character, Agnes. The forest and natural beauty of the world are key themes within the book, so it’s great to see Zhao taking the time to showcase the leaves, bushes, trees, and birds in all their glory, with plenty of establishing photography to bring a sense of calm and ease whenever we’re in Agnes’ happy place.

Just like she did with Nomadland, she ensures the environment is a key player, whether it be deep within the forest or within the hustle and bustle of the Globe Theatre. Readers’ biggest takeaway from the novel is how emotional the story is, and Zhao nails that tenfold. Always feeling natural in the mood it invokes from the audience, it’s a very touching and sad piece of filmmaking that combines sincere writing, solid performances, and expert filmmaking to break our hearts and leave us with a smile on our faces all at once. Zhao deserves her flowers.

From start to finish, Hamnet shows restraint in all areas, which helps every scene feel so natural and gentle. Feeling like a warm breeze on a summer’s day, the cinematography lingers, the complete stillness of the setting is often the focus, and the conversations are soft and smooth. It has its moments in terms of quick acts of violence and tear-jerking shocks, but even when Hamnet is at its most emotional, it never falls into melodrama. This doesn’t mean that a handful of sequences perhaps go on for a little too long, though more often than not, it impresses due to feeling like a true slice of life.

The production design is absolutely stunning, the villages being brought to life flawlessly to immersive us in 16th-century living. The set piece of the Globe Theatre is absolutely remarkable, with the cinematography highlighting its grandeur as the play attendees enter in bewilderment and wonder at its sheer size and beauty. The score from Max Richter (Ad Astra) brings everything together perfectly, using ‘On the Nature of Daylight’ in one of his most emotional ways yet. Despite holding intense themes of child death and familial drama, the filmmaking ensures the story is more than palatable and marries well with the story being told.

The cherry on top really is the performances from the talented cast, some of which are already being pegged as early awards season contenders. This is Jessie Buckley’s movie through and through, as she plays a grieving mother with intensity, understanding, and a whirlwind of believable emotion. Her best work to date, she’s incredibly impressive and shows all sides of Agnes with ease, from her nurturing motherhood based on her own upbringing to her guttural screams at her son’s deathbed. Agnes is a wonderful character, and Buckley is equally wonderful at bringing her to life. Paul Mescal is also not to be ignored, stepping into William Shakespeare’s iconic shoes with bravery and passion. Longing for something more than a simple home life and desperate not to be anything like his father, Shakespeare is far more complex than he often lets on, and Mescal portrays this subtly and beautifully. Whether he’s playing with his kids or stressing over his playwriting, Mescal both looks the part and acts the part. It’s no easy feat to display intense emotion and nuance as an actor, especially at an early stage in your career, but Jacobi Jupe absolutely nails the titular role of Hamnet, already showing the possibility of a prominent career. Joe Alwyn (The Brutalist) and Emily Watson (Corpse Bride) are also present, and despite minimal screen time, they make their presence known.

Only an extremely talented filmmaker could put forward the emotional intensity and deeply complex themes of this story in a successful way, yet Chloé Zhao and the filmmaking team nail it. Hamnet comes to life beautifully in character, story, and setting, helmed by incredible lead performances and featuring some of the most stunning cinematography of the year. It may feel slow in places, but a story such as this deserves the time and patience of both the filmmakers and the audience. Hamnet is a must-watch and one of the year’s most impressive watches.