A week has passed since the moving preview for Hamnet was released, yet critiques for this eagerly awaited movie, helmed by Eternals’ director Chloe Zhao, have started to surface already.
Under Paul Mescal (from Normal People and Gladiator II) and Jessie Buckley’s (Wicked Little Letters and The Lost Daughter) leadership, this movie adapts Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel with the same title. It delves into a captivating love story that is believed to have sparked the development of William Shakespeare’s legendary play, Hamlet.
The film, portraying Shakespeare and his wife Agnes’s sorrow after their 11-year-old son’s demise, was destined to pull at heartstrings. However, based on initial critiques, it seems set to be one of the most heartrending films of the year.
A tragedy, much like the great playwright’s tales themselves.
In cinema, Hamnet signifies Zhao’s comeback, as critics acclaim her skill in adapting the story and laud the acting talents of stars Buckley and Mescal.
The film has made its debut at the Telluride Film Festival, and is anticipated to shine among the top earners at the cinema.
According to The Playlist’s review, the emotional intensity displayed by these two actors is frequently powerful, much like opening a floodgate and pouring out emotion onto a blazing fire.
In the incorrect use, these instances might come off as contrived or insincere. However, it’s clear that Zhao, Buckley, and Mescal understand the essence behind those phrases.
This film is poised to deliver a powerful emotional impact, as indicated by Bilge Ebiri’s review on Vulture: “Hamnet may be one of the most emotionally crushing movies I’ve watched recently.
Reading the book was emotional as well, and delving into a movie depicting the loss of a child typically means tissues will be needed. However, I wasn’t fully prepared for the extent of my own emotional response, which led me to shed quite a few tears.
While the specific reason behind Shakespeare’s 11-year-old son’s demise remains uncertain, the film postulates that Hamnet perished due to the bubonic plague.
Ebiri pointed out that the movie tackles challenging themes using a “magic-infused, realistic style,” and he emphasized that Timothée Chalamet’s performance in the film reminds us just how exceptional an actor he truly is, as we occasionally lose sight of his talent.
The review by Deadline notes a poignant scene in the movie where Agnes (Buckley), amidst her personal sorrow, witnesses the initial staging of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet from the front row.
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The film review by Deadline underscores an impactful moment when Agnes (Buckley), who is still grieving, attends the premiere of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and experiences a powerful connection.
Highlighting Buckley’s outstanding portrayal specifically, the review states: “Buckley, flawless in every way, shines brightly and serves as the story’s pulsating core. She embodies a young woman with a free spirit, her own rhythm, who later transforms into a fiercely protective and devoted mother.
The Agnes-focused narrative was also highly commended, with Peter Dubrege describing it as a “revolutionary portrayal of female perspectives in Shakespeare’s domestic life.
The depiction of grief between Susanna’s birth and Hamlet’s death in this film is the most heart-wrenching I’ve seen for a while… If you find Hamnet’s emotional intensity overwhelming at times, consider why that might be. Could it be the movie’s portrayal, or could Zhao be pushing us to face something we’ve been reluctant to confront up until now?
Similarly to IndieWire’s Hamnet review, it emphasizes the powerful influence of sorrow, stating: “The film’s intense beauty, which extracts your soul so thoroughly that its overwhelming grief seems akin to falling in love or becoming a parent, is not just about losing a child but also about the experience of having one.
It appears that the film, Hamnet, is not yet available in theaters, but it currently boasts a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes after receiving reviews from 12 critics (as of now).
American film enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the release of “Hamnet” in November, but UK cinema-lovers must wait a little longer, as it won’t arrive in their cinemas until January 2026.
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2025-09-01 13:45