For one of the most lauded individuals in human history, William Shakespeare’s life story is one filled with gaps, presumptions and questions. This leaves things wide open for the dramatic interpretations of key moments of his life. Into this breach comes Writer/director Chloé Zhao‘s Hamnet. The timeframe mainly focuses on the early moments of Shakespeare’s relationship with his soon-to-be wife, Agnes Hathaway.
Will is played by Paul Mescal, and Agnes by Jessie Buckley and their performances are a masterclass in the art of acting. They are rich in subtle nuances and unspoken communications, and strangely, for a story about someone whose words were of utmost importance, this work could have almost worked as a silent film without losing any of its impact.
Will is portrayed as kind and generous with his words, but socially uncomfortable and not universally applauded by his immediate family. The relationship leading to the marriage is rushed, and soon, children enter the picture. With the birth of twins Hamnet and Judith, the family dynamic shifts. With the early death at 11 years old of their son Hamlet, their lives are torn asunder.
The way that the two parents deal with the grief is seemingly at polar opposites. Will disappears into his work, and Agnes is left to hold the family together. This creates one of the film’s most emotionally charged scenes when Agnes is made aware of Will’s deep love and sorrow for their departed son. This is a work that appeals even to those with no interest in Shakespeare and his works. It features raw human emotion that transcends any single person’s life story.
Rob Hudson
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