Based upon the book by Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet follows the story of Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and William (Paul Mescal) Shakespeare. It’s the 16th century and Agnes is a healer by trade. William is a tutor and aspiring playwright. They meet, fall in love and have three children. But when their son Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe) dies unexpectedly, they are struck with a grief unlike any other. Now more than ever they must stick together to get through this devastation.
Despite not reading the source material, I was still very excited to see this come to screen. As a result, I can’t say if this is a faithful adoption. I am, however, a big Shakespeare fan and I feel like that had to count for something. While I knew more or less the plot and how these events paved the way for Shakespeare to write one of the greatest tragedies of all time, I had no idea exactly what I was in for.
This is without a doubt Buckley’s film. Her portrayal of Agnes was raw and heartbreaking. The way in which she completely gave herself over to this role was a spectacle to behold. Every word, breath, scream and expression was perfectly executed and if she doesn’t get the Oscar then I don’t know what to think anymore. Mescal delivered a performance of masculinity and vulnerability. He showed a range that I did not know he was capable of and I applaud him for it. I was also very impressed with the actors who starred as the Shakespeares’ children. Susanna (Bodhi Rae Breathnach), Judith (Olivia Lynes) and Hamnet himself each did a brilliant job. Little Jacobi Jupe captured my heart, tore it out of my chest and then proceeded to stop all over it.
I’ll admit I was a bit nervous going into this. I had a feeling that it would be a bit on the slower side. Although that is true, it did not deter my enjoyment. In fact, there was simply no other way that it could have been. There were no special effects, no gimmicks. Everything is done deliberately and with purpose. To be able to witness to these characters and to watch their story unfold on its own terms was an honor. In addition, the cinematography was stunning and the score helped tie it all together.
At its core, Hamnet is a story about humanity. The way in which it explores grief, love and memory is done expertly. The film more than exceeded my expectations and left me in tears. I don’t think I have ever felt so devastated and yet totally rewarded after watching a film before, but that is exactly what happened. I highly recommend checking it out.
Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
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