Hamnet
2025
****
Director: Chloé Zhao
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, Olivia Lynes, David Wilmot, Justine Mitchell, Louisa Harland, Noah Jupe
In the late 16th-century England, Agnes Hathaway and William Shakespeare marry and build a family. When the family is hit by tragedy, Agnes falls apart and William transforms personal sorrow into enduring art. Chloé Zhao's moving period drama is based on Maggie O’Farrell's 2020 novel, which weaves a fictional story around real-life people and the creation of Hamlet. This is an affecting film about grief and the power of art, with brilliant performances by the Oscar winning Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. Max Richter's minimalist score works wonders.
