“Look at me. Look at me.”

Story: Shakespeare’s plays. Everybody knows ’em or at least knows of them. But what about how they came about? Herewith, a look at how his play Hamlet may have come to be.

Genre I’d put it in: Bewitching Historical Dramas
Release Date: 2025
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Based on the life of William Shakespeare and his wife Ann/Agnes, and the award winning novel of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell. Oh yeah, and that Hamlet play you read in school.

Gotta say: There’s a lot of things I can say, and will say, about this film. But off the cuff? Damn, that’s intense. In all the very best ways. This is a movie to sink into. A story that will fill you with joy, break your heart, and then mend it. 

Information about the bard from his own pen is thin on the ground. So, of course, creators have had a field day with that. (Well hello, Shakespeare in Love.) But Hamnet focuses on his family rather than the man, fleshing out their lives. This lends a deeply touching gravitas to the play Hamlet, one that I hadn’t known existed. Mostly because I’m a Shakespeare dilettante, knowing general bits of his plays and life, but lost when it comes to anything more than that. Luckily, director Zhao delivers a film that can be enjoyed by casual viewers and more knowledgeable folks in equal measure.

Portraying Ann as a sort of hedge witch, with her visions, and knowledge of herbs, sets the stage for visions and memories that feel tied to the plot, rather than fanciful side bits. Hamnet shares her visions, which not only bonds the two, but helps ground his later scenes. Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell did an excellent job adapting O’Farrell’s book to the screen.

Yes Jessie Buckley is amazing as Ann, the awards buzz is justified here. But let’s take a moment to acknowledge the powerhouse that is Emily Watson as Will’s mother Mary, giving every scene she’s in everything she’s got, as per usual. Though my special shout-out this time is for someone who’s already getting a load of flowers, but who cares? Jacobi Jupe is an absolute revelation as Hamnet. (BTW, Olivia Lynes as Hamnet’s twin sister Judith is amazing as well.) With this film, Weapons, and Frankenstein? This might be the year where I throw aside my negative thoughts on child actors. I’m just as shocked as you.

There’s more, to this film than the performances though. The art direction, cinematography, and set design is outstanding. There’s gorgeous shots of the countryside that are sure to spike travel. The kitchen sickbed for Judith and Hamnet is structured as a still life, heartbreakingly lush. Hamnet’s visions  during his sickness is shot beautifully through black lace, as if we’re not allowed to view his whole experience. Then there’s the shot of a bedroom with one bed, when there was two before, which absolutely broke me. Broke. Me.

While this film is excellent in and of itself it improves on repeat viewings, as visions early in the film hark to things that are seen latee on. Interactions between characters inform the way the story unfolds. It’s a masterclass of direction and editing. Get thee to a multiplex.

#Protip: Here, have some history of the bard, his family, and their personal tragedy.