HANMET IN CINEMA JANUARY 15th
FILM REVIEW: HAMNET
STARRING Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley
Jacobi Jupe stars as Hamnet, Bodhi Rae Breathnach as Susanna and Olivia Lynes
Director Chloe Zhao
Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao delivers one of her most emotionally resonant works yet with HAMNET—a deeply moving, exquisitely crafted exploration of love, grief, and the transformative power of art. Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel, Zhao’s adaptation captures the intimate world behind Shakespeare’s most personal tragedy and reimagines the domestic heartache that may have shaped Hamlet.
Set in 1580s England, the film traces the early life of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and his profound connection with the fiercely independent Agnes (Jessie Buckley). Their passionate, unconventional courtship leads to marriage and the birth of their three children. As Shakespeare pursues a rising theatre career in London, Agnes shoulders the weight of family life alone. When devastating loss strikes, the couple’s bond fractures—and ultimately forges the emotional landscape from which Shakespeare’s masterpiece emerges.
Zhao brings her signature poetic realism to the fore, crafting a film that is both grounded and transcendent. Working alongside cinematographer Łukasz Żal, she creates a visually stunning world filled with earthy textures, luminous interiors, and tender observational detail. Max Richter’s haunting score underlines the film’s emotional depths without overtaking it.
The performances are exceptional across the board. Jessie Buckley delivers a powerful, emotionally raw portrayal of Agnes—equal parts ethereal, determined, and heartbreakingly human. Paul Mescal brings a soulful sensitivity to Shakespeare, illuminating the tension between ambition and personal responsibility. Emily Watson and Joe Alwyn provide compelling support, enriching the film’s emotional tapestry.
Produced by an extraordinary team—Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Sam Mendes, and Steven Spielberg—HAMNET has been nurtured with passion from the moment its rights were first secured. Marshall, a longtime admirer of O’Farrell, recalls reading the manuscript in a single night and immediately recognising its cinematic potential. With Neal Street Productions and Amblin Entertainment joining forces, and Mendes championing Zhao’s involvement, the project gathered formidable creative momentum.
Zhao proves to be the ideal director for this adaptation. Her intuitive understanding of O’Farrell’s elliptical storytelling and her empathy-driven approach to character give HAMNET an extraordinary emotional clarity. As Mendes notes, she brings together “rawness and delicacy in ways I’ve never seen,” allowing the cast to flourish and the story to breathe with authenticity.
HAMNET is a film of quiet power—deeply human, visually arresting, and emotionally cathartic. Zhao honours the novel while shaping it into her own poetic vision, offering audiences a meditation on love, loss, and the creative impulse that turns pain into art. It is a standout cinematic achievement and one of the most affecting literary adaptations in recent memory.
Caroline Russo
