I had been taught about Hamlet for most of my schooling career. It is the story of the Danish prince but was written after the death of William Shakespeare’s son. I knew the tale. Yet nothing could have prepared me for the emotional turmoil and release that Hamnet provides its audience.
Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell beautifully adapted O’Farrell’s novel of the same name that tells the love story of Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and her husband, William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal). Prior to Shakespeare’s work in the theatre in London, he fell in love with Agnes and the two wed when she was a few months pregnant with their eldest daughter. All details that Zhao and O’Farrell get correct in the film.
But none of the historical accuracies or moments I learned about in school came to mind as I watched Zhao’s film. Maybe it was because they don’t really address Mescal as “William” or “Shakespeare” until the very end but instead, Agnes fills her time with calling him “My love.” I was so captivated by their love story and their family, I forgot that I knew most of what was going to happen.
And I think that is a testament to the work that Zhao and O’Farrell are doing with the story. If I can forget that I knew what happens between Shakespeare and Agnes, then that means Hamnet is doing something right.
A story of grief
Hamnet Shakespeare was the son of Agnes and William Shakespeare. In the film, he’s played by Jacobi Jupe. But in real life, the death of Hamnet weight so heavily on Shakespeare that he wrote Hamlet during his grief. The play itself is not one of grief and loss, which the film does not sell it to be, but is more about Shakespeare unpacking his own guilt and upset over his son’s death.
What I loved so much about Hamnet is that Zhao allows us to understand Agnes’ love and pain and while Shakespeare is very much a character within that story, it is Agnes’ to tell. She’s there with her children while Shakespeare is with his plays and she is the one who has to be willing to open her grief up to Will.
And Zhao and O’Farrell do a brilliant job of weaving in nods to other works of Shakespeare’s without making it heavy handed. If you know his plays, you’ll know the references, but the only play that particularly matters in this case is Hamlet.
Agnes and Will’s love for each other is what makes this story something more than just a retelling of Shakespeare’s life. We are watching two people who, ultimately, love each other more than anything, navigate a world that is complicated. Their daughter cannot move to London and that’s where Will needs to be and it keeps the family apart.
But the most captivating and beautiful aspect of Hamnet comes from the final act of the film.
Art is for all, no matter its origin
The connection of Hamlet and Hamnet is obvious, all things are leading to the creation of Shakespeare’s great work. But what I loved the most about Hamnet is that it isn’t just a cut and dry connection between the two, as it isn’t that way in real life. The way Shakespeare explored his grief and upset with writing Hamlet, Hamnet shows that there are many ways to look at art and connect with it.
For so much of this film, I was trying to find the moment where I would be overwhelmingly connected to this story and I should have known it was going to be through Shakespeare’s art. And maybe my connection to the film was trying to unpack it all along, much like how so many of us deal with Shakespeare’s writing.
But for what it is worth, Hamnet is a beautiful exploration of life, art, and how we all can connect to a piece of art in a different way and I think that is something so special.
(featured image: Agata Grzybowska/Focus Features)
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