Hamnet Review

Hamnet unfurls the poignant tapestry of tragedy that envelops Sir William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes Shakespeare. Directed by the acclaimed Chloé Zhao and starring Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare and Paul Mescal as Sir William Shakespeare, the film navigates their relationship, marriage, and family life with a disarming intimacy. Described as 'a hushed heartbeat of a film,' this biographical drama offers a compelling complement to the BBC One documentary on Shakespeare’s life, providing a fresh and nuanced perspective. According to Wikipedia, Hamnet is directed by Chloé Zhao and dramatizes the family life of William Shakespeare and Agnes Hathaway as they cope with the death of their 11-year-old son, capturing their hardship through visual storytelling that reflects both their poverty and emotional struggle.warmth of their bond. Agnes, often whispered to be the daughter of a witch, becomes the beacon of Shakespeare's affection, her character depicted as a radiant figure of young womanhood, a devoted mother, and an unwavering wife despite the weight of societal rumours. (Hamnet (film), 2025) Before the playwright rose to fame, the couple's journey through poverty, while raising their three children, underscores the resilience of love. (William Shakespeare: A biography, n.d.) The narrative traverses the time Shakespeare spent away in London, forging his career, but returns to the core themes of love, family, and the overwhelming grief that follows the loss of their son Hamnet to the bubonic plague. (Nordine, 2026)

What stands out most to me about this film is the director’s nuanced portrayal of grief. The narrative conveys not only the mother’s profound loss but also the father’s perspective. The film illustrates how the play Hamlet was inspired by the death of Hamnet, Shakespeare’s son. (Nordine, 2025) In the initial performance depicted in the film, the emotional difficulty Agnes Shakespeare experiences while watching Hamlet is evident, as is Sir William Shakespeare’s ongoing grief. I was particularly impressed by the performances of Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, both exceptional. Buckley's portrayal of Agnes is especially poignant during the scene in which she silently watches the opening of Hamlet, tears welling in her eyes, a visual testament to her inability to escape her sorrow. Likewise, Mescal captures the weight of Shakespeare’s grief in a scene where he hesitates before delivering his lines, his voice breaking slightly as he looks out into the distance. Additionally, the film’s set design, lighting, and music all contribute significantly to its emotional impact. At Basket, we hold Hamnet in high regard. As the credits roll, one might find themselves pondering: How do we carry our own grief into acts of creation, transforming pain into timeless art?

References

(August 29, 2025). Hamnet (film). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamnet_%28film%29

(n.d.). William Shakespeare: A biography. Folger Shakespeare Library. https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-life/

Nordine, M. (February 10, 2026). Hamnet and the Question of Historical Accuracy. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/The-Rest-Is-Speculation-Hamnet-and-the-Question-of-Historical-Accuracy

Nordine, M. (December 22, 2025). Hamnet and the Question of Historical Accuracy. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Rest-Is-Speculation-Hamnet-and-the-Question-of-Historical-Accuracy