In 16th-century England, Chloé Zhao creates a story that feels close and personal for many. The movie Hamnet, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s beautiful book, is not a typical Shakespeare story about his life. Instead, it focuses on the woman and child who influenced Shakespeare’s writing. Jessie Buckley plays Agnes Shakespeare with wild grace—while Paul Mescal’s Will is a man lost, torn between dreams and family life. Zhao, returning to her calm, realistic style like in Nomadland, removes flashy scenes to show quiet grief, making the movie feel more like a sad but beautiful symphony.
At the heart of the film is Agnes’s strong spirit. Buckley’s acting is powerful and raw, her eyes full of unspoken feelings. Her performance turns her from just a historical figure into a mythic symbol of love and loss. Mescal, plays Will Shakespeare as a simple man, not a famous poet. He’s a clumsy farm boy who becomes a reluctant father—his small changes show his slow transformation. His restraint makes the pain feel real; there are no loud outbursts, only the quiet bleeding of a man trying to survive. Buckley and Mescal work together like a real couple—passionate but tangled in their struggles.
In Hamnet, grief isn’t loud or sudden; it’s a constant fog that makes everything else seem distant. Zhao treats it like a living thing that changes the family’s world. This real feeling, inspired by O’Farrell’s writing, makes the mourning universal. Zhao shows us that sadness isn’t a quick release but something messy that stays with us, making it even more real. The music in the film is beautiful. Strings and silence, composed by Zhao’s regular collaborator, create a mood that feels both old and new. The music doesn’t tell you how to feel but makes the emotions deeper.
Zhao’s directing is simple and honest. The camera quietly observes—long shots of Agnes walking through fog, close-up shots of Will drawing by firelight. The set design looks real, without trying too hard to look old. Natural light bathes the scenes, making everything feel inevitable, as if even the sun mourns. But there are small joyful moments too—children’s laughter, stolen kisses—reminding us that life keeps going even through pain.
After leaving the theater, a lot of people felt touched—strangers quietly crying together. Hamnet isn’t about tricks or cheap feelings but about recognizing our own losses through this old family’s story. The acting, music, and honest direction make it a special film that reminds us cinema’s real purpose: to hold what’s broken and help us heal. Hamnet stays with you as a powerful reminder of love’s enduring strength—what remains when everything else fades away. Watch it, and let it change you.
FIRST LOOK SCREENINGS
Sat Jan 10 + Sun Jan 11
Luna Leederville, Windsor & Luna on SX
Screening at Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, and the Windsor from January 15.
Screening in the Luna Outdoor on January 19 (Event screening) then January 20-21.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
- Socials: @frazer.live
- @neill.outloud
