HAMNET
8.8 / 10
A quiet tsunami of a film about the human experience. Devastating and beautiful in equal measure. This one stays with you.
Hamnet is Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel of the same name, a dramatic retelling of the creation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, inspired by the tragic death of his son Hamnet at age 11.
For those familiar with Shakespeare the man, you know how little is documented about who he actually was, and even less about his wife Anne, also known as Agnes, Hathaway. Zhao and O’Farrell lean into this historical vacuum to craft a deeply affecting story about love, grief, and perseverance.
What impressed me most is how naturally the film moves through a wide spectrum of emotions. Zhao’s quiet, confident direction, paired with beautiful cinematography and a supremely talented cast, allows the audience to feel exactly what’s unfolding on screen at any given moment.
Jessie Buckley is phenomenal as Agnes. She brings a layered complexity to the role, shaped by mysticism, raw emotion, and a constant undercurrent of love. Paul Mescal is given less to do, but he’s a strong enough foil to Buckley’s Agnes, and does well when the film asks more of him.
The supporting cast is excellent and establishes real depth with limited screen time. Emily Watson and Joe Alwyn stand out, and the child actors playing Shakespeare’s children deserve special praise.
I also want to applaud Zhao’s restraint in depicting one of the most difficult human experiences imaginable: the loss of a child. She never overexplains, trusting the audience to stay with the characters and sit in the silence when necessary.
My only critique is that I would have liked bit more exploration of the actual writing and development of Hamlet itself. That being said, this is fundamentally an emotional journey, and I understand the choice to streamline the narrative.
Hamnet is easily one of the best films I saw from 2025. My score: 8.8/10, and a strong recommendation to see it in theaters where your focus can’t stray from the screen. This film deserves it.
Hamnet is Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel of the same name, a dramatic retelling of the creation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, inspired by the tragic death of his son Hamnet at age 11.
For those familiar with Shakespeare the man, you know how little is documented about who he actually was, and even less about his wife Anne, also known as Agnes, Hathaway. Zhao and O’Farrell lean into this historical vacuum to craft a deeply affecting story about love, grief, and perseverance.
What impressed me most is how naturally the film moves through a wide spectrum of emotions. Zhao’s quiet, confident direction, paired with beautiful cinematography and a supremely talented cast, allows the audience to feel exactly what’s unfolding on screen at any given moment.
Jessie Buckley is phenomenal as Agnes. She brings a layered complexity to the role, shaped by mysticism, raw emotion, and a constant undercurrent of love. Paul Mescal is given less to do, but he’s a strong enough foil to Buckley’s Agnes, and does well when the film asks more of him.
The supporting cast is excellent and establishes real depth with limited screen time. Emily Watson and Joe Alwyn stand out, and the child actors playing Shakespeare’s children deserve special praise.
I also want to applaud Zhao’s restraint in depicting one of the most difficult human experiences imaginable: the loss of a child. She never overexplains, trusting the audience to stay with the characters and sit in the silence when necessary.
My only critique is that I would have liked bit more exploration of the actual writing and development of Hamlet itself. That being said, this is fundamentally an emotional journey, and I understand the choice to streamline the narrative.
Hamnet is easily one of the best films I saw from 2025. My score: 8.8/10, and a strong recommendation to see it in theaters where your focus can’t stray from the screen. This film deserves it.