hamnet

As a long time Shakespeare fan and a huge fan of both Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, this film was immediately on my radar almost as soon as it had been announced. Based on a book, Hamnet follows the story of a young William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes Shakespeare, as they navigate a life of loss and love that then inspires Shakespeare's timeless classic Hamlet. 

There are so many things I can say about this film that I’m not where I should start. I suppose the best place to start would be the plot. The plot in and of itself stood out as one of the best. Now, I haven't read the book but this quickly became one of those films where prior reading of the book isn't required but encouraged. Not only was this such a beautiful story detailing the inspiration behind Shakespeare's Hamlet, but it was a raw exploration of love in grief and the very real effects grief can have on a family and their relationships. From start to finish, it was attention grabbing and relatable. 

Jessie Buckley, who played Agnes Shakespeare, had such an oscar worthy performance and it truly felt as though she were a grieving mother and a loving wife. She brought an energy that was so real and true that as the audience I was experiencing these tragedies alongside her and became so truly enveloped within the story, it is done in a way that really connects with you fundamentally as a person and shows how even through loss, art will always be there as an anchor through it all and will always be proof of the importance of having that outlet, it is something that brings us together no matter how different we may be and how different our experiences in life may be. Paul Mescal does an excellent job as Shakespeare and further driving home the point that the film is making, which is that grief and tragedy is so intrinsically tied to art and allows for us as humans to express the feelings and emotions we cannot express with words. Jacobi Jupe, who plays the second eldest son Hamlet, truly had one of the most shockingly good performances within the movie. He stood out on his own as well as blending in with an already stacked and established cast as though he was one of the greatest actors of our generation. It was truly a sight to behold and the only thought I was left with was how far this kid was going to go if he was already this good and moving. 

Not only is the plot and the acting as beautiful as the film itself, but the cinematography and the use of colour throughout really drives it home for me. This idea that Agnes Shakespeare is always seen in red and stands out against her neutrally toned surroundings until the death of her son where she's seen sporting a brown dress to show her mourning, but at the end she is seen back in red to show that she is processing her grief and on a journey of acceptance and love. The colour red not only signifies intense emotion like love and passion and desire, but also that of anger and aggression, acting as a powerful attention-grabber for warnings or excitement. It represents energy, strength, courage, action and is often used to convey power while also signifying sacrifice and good fortune in various cultures. I think that this is such an important thing to factor into this movie, and Chloe Zao’s use of it so vibrantly against the browns, greens and greys of the background and supporting characters is such a significant choice and really highlights Agnes as the main character and highlights her journey and struggles throughout the movie.

What was interesting for me was a scene at the very end of the movie when Agnes (Buckley) and her brother Bartholomew (Alwyn) pay a visit to Shakespeare’s (Mescal) play in London and immerse themselves within the audience to see what he’s been working on for all this time and we are given the chance to see, in real time, a mother processing her grief through watching the art of acting and not only that but we see Shakespeare finally acknowledge what has happened to his son, when we see him breakdown off stage during one of Hamlet’s monolgues, and we get a chance to see the emotions he’s een bottling up inside and hidin throughout the film, showcasing the different ways we experience and handle grief as humans. 

Hamlet has always been one of my favourite plays, and I cannot recommend this film enough if you are the same. Even if you aren't, this film is a wonderful look into the life and world of Shakespeare and the story behind one of his most infamous masterpieces, and it is a true cinema experience that simply must be watched at least once on the big screen.