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By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
The word tragedy has become synonymous with William Shakespeare; the master of tragedies whose immortal works circumvent time and boundaries. Based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell, “Hamnet” delves into the life of Shakespeare in a way that has not been shown before and will undoubtedly foster a greater appreciation for his writing, particularly “Hamlet.” This is a gorgeous film with some of the year’s finest acting performances, but it is the efforts of an Oscar winning director that set this story apart from every other.
Late 16th century England finds a young William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) living in a rural town tutoring children in Latin. Before becoming the renowned playwright, he meets Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and finds passionate love. They build a humble, yet wonderful life together, raising their three children in the countryside. As Will ventures to London to explore his career, disaster befalls his family that has a profound impact on their lives and inspires perhaps his most well-known play, “Hamlet.”
To see or not to see, that is the question, and writer/director Chloé Zhao answers that with an emphatic yes. The Chinese filmmaker and two-time Oscar winner for 2020’s “Nomadland” explores the life of the historic playwright with a deeply personal touch that will leave audiences in a puddle of tears. Since little is known of Shakespeare’s actual life outside of his literary works, Zhao takes what is known about him such as his wife and three children and constructs this compelling tale of love and loss with the help of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel. The historical fiction weaves a tapestry of beautiful love and heartbreaking devastation that connects the true events of the celebrated bard into a masterful story. And she completes it with a thoughtfully symbolic conclusion that will send anyone with a heartbeat right over the edge.
As emotionally impactful as this incredible story is, Zhao’s filmmaking technique and style take it to another level. Using natural light and an observational style of cinematography, avoiding exaggerated camera movements and incorporating pivotal close-ups, she allows viewers to experience a deeper connection to the raw, emotional scenes. Accentuating the perfection of the mise-en-scène is the flawlessly accurate costuming and production design that brings the realism of 16th century England to the screen. Zhao then compliments these visuals with well-timed sound and music, particularly during scenes of foreboding that almost bring a horror element to the film, making the audience grip their armrests a little tighter as they await impending doom.
A story told with such passion and intensity as this requires a capable cast able to convincingly convey complex emotions, and Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal light up the screen with their incredible chemistry. Their connection is immediately dazzling, displaying a natural true love between each other’s characters that is so rarely seen in film these days, while still holding fast to their individual identities that both help and harm their relationship.
Buckley received her first Oscar nomination in 2022 for her supporting role in “The Lost Daughter,” and she will likely receive a nomination if not the win for her mesmerizing performance in this film. Between the unique qualities and mystery with which she imbues her character that give her an undeniable charm and the gut-wrenching devastation of a mother’s worst fear, this is the most complete performance by an actress so far this year. There is a particular scene in which she explodes with such a soul-rattling scream of woe that feels so visceral and real that the audience is made to feel her pain so completely.
After Mescal’s Oscar nominated performance in 2022’s “Aftersun,” he followed it up with a lackluster, forgettable performance in last year’s “Gladiator II” that raised questions about his ability to lead a film. He immediately erases those doubts with his best performance yet. The charisma and kindness mixed with purposeful passion are all present in his eyes alone, enabling unquestioning belief and understanding of his character as a loving husband, a loving father, and uncompromising writer. This should also set him up for his second Oscar nomination.
Even the supporting cast is exceptional, led by two-time Oscar nominee Emily Watson who provides a poignantly memorable moment as Shakespeare’s mother late in the movie that could garner her a supporting actress nomination. Even the young actors who played their children are fantastic, particularly Jacobi Jupe whose exuberance and innocence appeal to viewers.
It has seemed unlikely that any film could possibly get in the way of “Sinners” from taking a majority of this year’s awards, but this one answers the call. “Hamnet” is a beautiful movie that offers unparalleled storytelling and performances that will tear at your heart. And you don’t have to appreciate William Shakespeare to enjoy this film, just be sure to bring some tissues. It’s only in select theaters right now but will have an expanded release on December 5th.
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