Tag: hamnet

directed by Chloé Zhao

Oscars are coming, but I do not really care. Because if “Hamnet” doesn’t win as the Best Picture, I don’t even want to hear about it. According to me, no film of the nominees is as good as “Hamnet”. Not even close. If you want to see a quality cinema with spectacular acting, amazing costumes and production design, engaging story full of real emotions – then that’s it. Chloé Zhao takes us back to the times of William Shakespeare, but, unlike in other films, the spotlight is put on his wife, Agnes Hathaway (Jessie Buckley). She’s said to be a forest witch’s daughter, which seems to attract William (Paul Mescal) even more. Well, he had a specific type, can’t lie. He’s fascinated by Agnes’ bravery and love for nature, while she’s mesmerised by William’s imagination and storytelling skills. Those two fall in love and have 3 children, which seems like a perfect life. Unfortunately, William spends a lot of time in London working on his plays, while Agnes misses his presence at home. The things get even more complicated when their only son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), is suffering from a serious illness and Agnes’ healing skills seem to be insufficient. I don’t want to spoil more, because it’s really worth experiencing this story to the fullest. Since we know very little about Shakespeare’s family life, the screenplay is fictional, but there are several facts it’s based on. I feel like Chloé Zhao wanted to create the character of Agnes to show she’s more than just a famous writer’s wife. That she had to be a strong individual to go through the reality she was living in. It’s a story about how unusual love can be and how differently each person searches for ease in case of experiencing incredible pain. What Jessie Buckley does in this film is… out of this world. I had chills watching each scene and she made me forget it’s not real. But Jessie’s emotions were beyond being real. Thanks to her, the character of Agnes was complete. Also, she represents the uniqueness of women, which may show in numerous ways, far from common stereotypes. But at the same time, the film doesn’t make William the bad one. Instead, we get the message that those two needed to complement each other, even though they were different human beings with their own needs, values and weaknesses. To me, this film is also a lesson that a quality relation may flourish in unprecedented circumstances and it’s important to connect on a profound level. Anything shallow is of little importance. I believe each person may benefit from seeing “Hamnet” and get whatever they need from it at the moment. I did and I’m thankful. This is the best picture of 2025. Nothing more to add.

My rating: 9/10
S.