by usia review

The death of a child brings indescribable pain. In this case, it also brings familial drama, a literary masterpiece, and Chloe Zhao's Hamnet, which follows Agnes and William Shakespeare in 16th-century England as they navigate the family tragedy that may have inspired one of history's most famous plays.

While the inciting incident is real, the film itself is largely a work of historical fiction. The truth is, we don't know what inspired Shakespeare to write Hamlet, we don't know how his son met his untimely end, and we don't know if Shakespeare's wife really spent her days wandering the woods doing witchy stuff with herbs. That doesn't stop Zhao from filling in the blanks with some interesting ideas.

Hamnet seems to have one goal in mind, and that is to make you bawl your eyes out... and perhaps pick up a few Oscars while it's at it. The film constantly walks a tightrope over melodrama, and whether it falls into the abyss of pure sappy slop is going to depend on the viewer. Personally, I think it sticks the landing. Some of its emotional swings are obvious, and there are plenty of flashbacks and musical cues that are practically begging you to cry, but more often than not, they actually work. While accuracy isn't the intent here, authenticity absolutely is.

Jesse Buckley is the clear standout, delivering the kind of performance that grabs you from the very beginning and never lets go. Paul Mescal goes in the complete opposite direction, giving a much quieter performance that works just as well. One of the film's biggest surprises is Jacobi Jupe, who acts like his life depends on it, and perhaps it does, because this role will almost certainly catapult him into future projects.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't walk into Hamnet expecting complete mediocrity. However, any cynicism I had going in was instantly washed away by the lush green scenery and Max Richter's beautiful score, both of which worked like a charm and had this snake thoroughly soothed. Hamnet may not reinvent the historical drama, but as a meditation on grief, love, and the ways art can bloom from the seeds of pain, it's far more moving than I expected.

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Kai Prince

Kai Prince was born and raised in Sacramento, California, and is currently pursuing a degree in Cinema at San Francisco State University. His early fascination with film evolved into a study of the medium as both an artistic expression and a lens through which to examine past and present societies across the globe. He is especially drawn to films that challenge their audiences, defy convention, and open viewers to worlds beyond their own.