Dissecting the work of the late 16th- and early 17th-century writer, William Shakespeare, was standard in many high school curricula. From “Romeo and Juliet” to “Macbeth” and “Hamlet,” it was customary for teenagers to pore over the work that ultimately shaped modern English literature.
As Shakespeare became a modern household name, media adaptations and reimaginings of his most well-known works became commonplace.
“Hamnet” marks the latest of these literary adaptations, with director Chloé Zhao sharing her adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel by the same name. The film retells the suspected period of Shakespeare’s life that may have influenced the publishing of his literary tragedy, “Hamlet.”
The names “Hamlet” and “Hamnet” were spelt interchangeably at that time, aiding scholars’ theories that the play is based on Shakespeare’s late son, Hamnet, who passed away at age 11. While the cause of death was not widely documented in the late Elizabethan era, many scholars believe Hamnet’s early death was due to the bubonic plague.
This 2025 imagining is skillfully portrayed by lead actors Paul Mescal as Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley as his wife, Agnes. Their three children — Susana, Judith and Hamnet — are played by young actors Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Olivia Lynes and Jacobi Jupe.
While the primary focus of this film is on the heartbreaking events leading to the creation of “Hamlet,” a subliminal, yet thematically central topic to many Shakespearean works is the relationship between man and nature.
Wide, open shots of stunning English countryside fields and forests mark much of the film’s setting. Agnes, suspected of witchcraft by townspeople for her connection to nature and vast knowledge of botanical medicine, serves as a primary voice for this connection.
Her intimate, fantastical connection with nature provides her with a near-supernatural ability to perceive the future of others and herself.
Agnes’s strong, stubborn nature pushes her to defy fate when she receives a vision during the birth of her two youngest children that one of them will die before her.
Suspecting her youngest daughter, Judith, after a traumatic birth, Agnes vows to protect her at all costs.
The film emphasizes nature’s ultimate power over man’s will through a strong soundtrack and stunningly intentional cinematography. Characters were frequently filmed in the bottom third of a shot while natural backgrounds loomed above, subtly emphasizing nature’s overarching power over humanity.
Zhao utilizes long dialogue takes and includes seemingly unnecessary scenes of characters’ daily habits to immerse viewers in their lives.
This directorial choice effectively shows Shakespeare as distinctly human, removing him from his historical stale pedestal.
The film gives voice to every family member. William Shakespeare’s name is not spoken until the film’s end, when viewers see the first live production of “Hamlet” on the Globe Theatre’s stage.
This choice, on top of allowing all other family members’ names to be spoken throughout the film, prevents his name from overpowering the importance of each character and their influence on the story.
For 21st-century readers, grasping the emotional depth of Shakespeare’s Early Modern English can be challenging. This film successfully shows audiences the rich emotional impact evoked in Shakespeare’s tragedies.
By the film’s end, sniffles could be heard throughout the theatre as a portion of “Hamlet” is performed on stage.
The family’s grief is powerfully displayed in one final theatre scene. An audience composed of all class levels looks on, connecting with the play’s emotional core.
My own heart ached watching Buckley portray Agnes’s turbulent emotions as she witnesses her husband’s artistic creation following the death of their son.
I felt what I can only imagine were the feelings of late 16th-century viewers who saw the performance live. This film made Shakespeare’s work emotionally accessible to a historically detached modern audience.
For those yet to see the film, the emotional impact is deeper if you enter the movie with a basic understanding of Shakespeare and his life. While still enjoyable without substantial knowledge, a brief history lesson makes the experience all the better.
Ultimately, Zhao’s “Hamnet” is far more than a literary retelling; it is a successful emotional translator. The film bridged the gap between 21st-century audiences and the raw emotional depth of an Early Modern English tragedy.
For viewers, the film becomes a profound reintroduction to Shakespeare. Connecting modern audiences to him not only for his historical significance, but as a distinctly, deeply emotional human figure.
