Mary: “What is given may be taken away at any time.”
Interweaving an emotional narrative between historical fact and seemingly plausible guesswork/fiction to the point that it feels a wholly realistic possibility, this year’s Academy Award Best Picture nominee Hamnet (2025), co-written and directed by Chloé Zhao, provides an intriguing look at the life of William Shakespeare and his family tied into his legendary tragedy Hamlet.
Also co-written by Maggie O’Farrell – who wrote the novel of the same name that the film is based upon, the narrative takes a years long look at the Shakespeare family. Opening with an explanation that the names of Hamnet and Hamlet were basically interchangeable at this time in history, that will certainly come into play later. Introducing us to the two main players, Agnes (Jessie Buckley – seeming to be a lock for the Oscar for Leading Actress this year), is a woman in tune with the wilderness and often lingers near a natural forest hole – she’s a supposed woodland witch with knowledge of herbs, animals, and also having an eye for seeing glances into the future, while William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) is working as a tutor to pay off the debt his father John (David Wilmot – The Guard; Calvary) has incurred.
With her beguiling natural beauty, William is immediately smitten upon seeing Agnes. . . there is no denying a natural connection that almost instantly draws them together. . . much to the chagrin of the Shakespeare parents John and his wife Mary (Emily Watson – The Proposition), as well as Agnes’ brother Bartholomew (Joe Alwyn – The Favourite; Harriet). Despite an initial scandal, nothing will keep them apart. . . with three children soon added to the family: Susanna (Bodhi Rae Breathnach), Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), and his twin sister Judith (Olivia Lynes) – all three are revelations in their roles.
Soon, William hears the call from London. . . the only place where he can truly be to follow his dreams as a playwright for his theatrical career. Agnes can sense this drive within him and allows him to leave, no matter how difficult the lengthy separations will be. Can their marriage and family hold strong with their father/husband off in the big city for months on end? Or might resentment, frustration, and grief grow due to his lengthy departures?
Done in a way that feels so intertwined to Shakespeare’s own Hamlet, Hamnet starts to feel truly authentic – whether accurate in its historic guesswork on not. Shot with beauty, romance, authenticity, passion, sorrow, anguish, and solace, it feels real in its depiction of a long distance marriage, driven ambition, and the fragility of family. Capturing the realism of the late 16th and early 17th century, its use of nature, Tudor-style architecture, recreation of The Globe Theatre, and use of natural and practical light for authenticity – thanks to cinematographer Lukasz Zal (Ida; Cold War), really makes the era come to life. Zhao’s framing, slow pans, and lengthy takes also cast a meditative spell over the audience. . . better capturing the emotions being depicted onscreen.
Hamnet is a feature that is packed full with plentiful emotion, and it is actually quite surprising how powerful this take on a family from over 400 years ago truly is. Its depiction of truth combined with possible theories and guesswork is truly awe-inspiring, the type of movie that could someday blur the lines between fiction and reality – but somehow seemingly only for the better. It humanizes both Shakespeare and Hamlet, which, this many years on from its writing and writer, often feels more mythological than actuality. There are plenty of connections to Hamlet as well – fun to spot for fans. It is also worth noting, for those of you who like to catch cameos from directors, Zhao can be seen as an audience member extra at The Globe Theatre towards the conclusion of the movie. Another cool tidbit finds Hamnet actor Jacobi Jupe’s older brother, Noah Jupe, portraying Hamlet in the play later in the picture. So, what is the difference between Hamnet and Hamlet, ‘that is the question’.