Written by Chloé Zhao And Maggie O'Farrell
Directed by Chloé Zhao
Will:"Is it true, you know everything about a person, by touching them here?"
Anne: "Not everything."
With the Oscars due next month, I had to catch up with this movie. Even if it wasn't being nominated for every award under the sun, I'd still want to watch it. I mean, how could I not? Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal are two of the best Irish actors working these days.
In this movie, Buckley took on the role of Anne Shakespeare, formerly Hathaway, the wife of William, played by Mescal himself. Also the mother of his children. Their romance isn't always highlighted in movie adaptations but this movie not only centred on their union but also a very brutal shared tragedy between the couple as well.
The tragedy being the death of their son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe). Yes, this particular time in their lives saw both Anne and William struggle with their grief over losing Hamnet while unable to console one another. Anne's grief was more straightforward and relatable to the audience as a collective whole.
William's on the other hand manifested in the writing of one of his most infamous plays, Hamlet. William poured his grief, anger and frustration out into that play and even with some of the actors during its rehearsals. One of those actors happened to be the young man playing Hamlet (Noah Jupe) before a live performance of the play took place.
Anne had to find out in the worst way aka through her stepmother, Joan (Justine Mitchell) that William was putting on a tragedy. She certainly felt a lot of anger as the play started off while her brother Bartholomew (Joe Alwyn) tried to support her. However as Hamlet played out and she saw William's own grief play out on stage, she able to laugh for the first time.
I've seen more than enough movies, TV shows etc on the topic of grief and there's something genuinely gut wrenching in this one. Both Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal absolutely convey the harrowing loss and pain of losing a child and both of them deliver exceptionally heartbreaking performances. Give them all the awards.
- Other strong performances in this movie came from Emily Watson and David Wilmot as William's parents. The actors playing William and Anne's daughters were strong too.
- The movie's based on a book that was written by Maggie O'Farrell. She was the co-writer of the movie.
- Anne was likened to a witch and mentioned being able to see things. She also had a hawk. William was teaching to pay off his father's debts.
- Anne was also referred to as Agnes and the opening scene pointed out that Hamlet and Hamnet were considered the same name.
- Standout music: Max Ritchie's score absolutely elevated the movie along with the use of On The Nature Of Daylight.
- Chronology: Hamlet debuted between 1599 and 1601. The second half of the movie was set in that period. The movie was set in Stratford upon Avon and London, including the Globe Theatre.
Hamnet has now easily become my favourite award contender. What an incredible movie. Absolutely gutting and beautiful to watch, the most compelling performances from both Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. Chloé Zhao and Maggie O'Farrell also deserve all the acclaim for the writing and directing. Truly exceptional from start to finish.
Rating: 10 out of 10
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