What if Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy was born from his deepest personal sorrow? Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet,’ starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, delves into this heart-wrenching premise. Our review from the Telluride Film Festival calls it magnificent and emotionally devastating. Are you ready for a film that redefines art and grief?
The 52nd Telluride Film Festival has unveiled a powerful cinematic experience with Chloé Zhao’s latest work, ‘Hamnet’, a profound exploration of how art emerges from the deepest human experiences, reviewed here as a standout. This compelling film, featuring magnificent performances, establishes a theme of artistic transformation prevalent among the festival’s early showings.
Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel, ‘Hamnet’ presents a fictional yet meticulously researched account of William Shakespeare’s life, intertwining his personal tragedy with his monumental creative output. The narrative delves into the poignant suggestion that the untimely death of his 11-year-old son, Hamnet, served as the direct catalyst and profound inspiration for one of his most iconic plays, ‘The Tragedy of Hamlet’, creating a compelling Shakespeare Adaptation.
At its core, the film is a deeply emotional journey, commencing as a passionate love story, evolving into a complex family drama, and ultimately navigating the profound depths of pain, conflict, and eventual solace. Jessie Buckley delivers a sensational performance as Agnes, a free-spirited woman deeply connected to nature, whose world collides with that of the ambitious young William Shakespeare, powerfully portrayed by Paul Mescal, in a tale of captivating romance and societal friction.
Their initial passionate, somewhat forbidden affair blossoms into marriage, and they raise three children: Susannah, Judith, and Hamnet. As William Shakespeare’s ambitions grow, he frequently leaves their Stratford-On-Avon home for London, pursuing his burgeoning career in playwriting and production, leaving Agnes to shoulder the responsibilities of their domestic life, a growing source of tension within their union.
The family’s tranquility shatters with the onset of the plague, leading to Judith’s severe illness. In a heartbreaking attempt, Hamnet tries to transfer his health to his sister, an act of selfless love that ultimately costs him his own life. This devastating loss profoundly impacts the family, particularly the absent father, William, and exacerbates the rift between him and Agnes, whose grief becomes inseparable from the genesis of his darkest work, ‘The Tragedy of Hamlet’.
Chloé Zhao, who co-wrote the adaptation with O’Farrell, masterfully crafts an emotionally devastating narrative, particularly culminating in the opening performance of ‘The Tragedy of Hamlet’. Agnes, attending the play, expects a comedy, only to confront the raw, transformed grief of her husband’s art on stage at the Old Globe, a moment that stands as the film’s undisputed highlight, leaving audiences profoundly shaken.
The performances are exceptional; Jessie Buckley embodies Agnes with an unleashed emotional range, portraying a fiercely protective mother whose life is as much entwined with nature as with her husband. Paul Mescal delivers a powerful and previously unseen portrayal of the Bard, bringing depth and intense vulnerability to his role. Jacobi Jupe shines as the young Hamnet, and Noah Jupe, as the older Hamlet in the play-within-a-film, adds another layer of compelling acting to this Hamnet Review.
Technically, ‘Hamnet’ is a triumph, boasting stunning cinematography by Lukasz Zal that captures both intimate candlelit interiors and expansive natural landscapes. Fiona Crombie’s production design is impeccably accurate, complemented by Max Richter’s subtle and lilting score, all contributing to the film’s immersive and poignant atmosphere.
Following her Oscar-winning successes and a foray into blockbuster cinema, Chloé Zhao demonstrates her unparalleled versatility and quiet determination with ‘Hamnet’. This film stands as a testament to her unique vision, exploring how life profoundly influences art and cementing her status as one of today’s most compelling filmmakers. This ‘Telluride Film Festival’ premiere is a monumental achievement for Zhao, Buckley, and Mescal, reaching new artistic heights.
