Countless adaptations of William Shakespeare’s legendary plays have hit the big screen, yet very few films have focused on the life of the famous playwright. So, when I heard that Chloe Zhao had released a screenplay of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, "Hamnet" (2020), I knew I had to watch it.
Released on Dec. 5, "Hamnet" (2025) follows star Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare, who is a struggling artist looking for companionship. Upon finding his wife, Agnes (Jessie Buckley) he starts a family consisting of Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), Judith (Olivia Lynes) and Susanna (Bodhi Rae Breathnach). The narrative follows the family as they navigate the unforgiving world of 16th-century England.
"Hamnet" merged many elements of previous A24 productions like "Ladybird" (2017) and "The Green Knight" (2021) all throughout the movie. Specifically, I noticed the artful capturing of the domestic tension and the beautiful rendering of color in both nature and costume design. I particularly loved the use of colored costume pieces to represent Will and Agnes, where Will dons this royal blue, and Agnes is adorned with a ruby red, both of which are highlights in the forest’s green atmosphere. With the representations of these three primary colors, there is a symmetry in the palette chosen for the scene.
This symmetry is what makes the entire movie for me. In many scenes, there are still panned-out camera shots held for an unusual amount of time, making the audience feel like they are truly living the experience. One scene in particular portrays marital tensions between Will and Agnes, all from the confines of Shakespeare’s desk. In this single shot is writing, arguing, tending to a crying baby and a resolution that made me enthralled in the domestic activities in the film.
Additionally, the writing and dialogue for this movie were genuine, realistic and also timely. This movie has a perfect balance of witty allusions to Shakespeare’s works, built on a strong foundational narrative that anyone can understand. The only complaint that I had about the writing was one scene where Shakespeare considers his mortality, culminating in a performance of Hamlet’s famous “To be or not to be.” While many might find this interesting, to me it felt forced into the story and slightly tacky.
Mescal’s performance was breathtaking and polarizing, as his fatherlike qualities show through, yet the compelling pursuit of his work makes the audience question his success. Buckley’s deep understanding of her character contributed greatly to the work as a whole. She truly embodied the pains Agnes endures in the movie, both physically and emotionally.
Following the release of the film, "Hamnet" has received a widely praiseworthy 7.9/10 on IMDB and an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. With the Oscars just recently occurring on March 15, Buckley deservedly won in the category of Best Actress.
"Hamnet" was a beautiful, skillful, and gut-wrenchingly emotional project. If I had to rate it, I would give it a 8.5/10 for the cinematography, use of color and creative narrative. If you or your friends decide to watch this movie, I recommend you have a clear afternoon, your favorite blanket and a box of tissues just in case the movie brings you to tears.
Photo provided by Abby Rurenko on Unsplash