“Hamnet” – 3 1/2 stars out of 4
When I type “Hamnet” into my computer, the little red line appears, because it thinks I should be writing “Hamlet” instead. But according to the title card of Chloe Zhao’s “Hamnet,” the names were considered interchangeable in Shakespeare’s time.
Regardless of how you spell it, or whether the alternate spelling is being used as an attention device, Zhao’s moody, thoughtful film is a welcome return to form for the director of 2020’s award-winning “Nomadland.”
At its core, “Hamnet” is the story of how William Shakespeare produced what may be his most famous and enduring play. Based on a work of creative non-fiction by Maggie O’Farrell (who co-wrote the screenplay with Zhao), the narrative traces Shakespeare’s early family life: his courtship of his wife, their efforts as rookie parents, and his early efforts to become a successful playwright.
The allusions to Shakespeare’s works are clear and early. Will (Paul Mescal) and Agnes (Jessie Buckley) are not that far removed from Romeo and Juliet, and their relationship is only a little less tragic. Living far from London in rural England, Will’s talents aren’t exactly practical, and Agnes’s reputation as a witch’s daughter isn’t helped when she gets her pregnant out of wedlock. But their love endures, and after a time Will is spending long stretches in London working on his plays while Agnes tends to their three young children at home.
The little family has its joys, but doom, disease and premonition constantly loom over the household until a tragedy worthy of Shakespeare’s own hand arrives while the Bard is away on business. The event, which won’t be detailed here, is both a threat to the fragile marriage and the inspiration for the (sort of) titular play that follows.
“Hamnet’s” story will be interesting enough for anyone interested in the man or his celebrated works, but it’s the craft of the film itself that really makes Zhao’s effort memorable. “Hamnet” is dominated by powerful and resonant performances, none as much as Buckley and Jacobi Jupe, who more than holds his own at such a young age.
Elsewhere, Lukasz Zal’s cinematography is dramatic and emotive, using the mystery of the British woods and the crooked rural England architecture to play with light and shadow as it frames the actors and the action. Two favorites: the narrow shaft of light that penetrates the top floor bedroom, illuminating whoever is sitting on the edge of the bed, and (even better) a birds-eye image looking down on a stage and a group of patrons at the Globe Theater.
Fans of “Nomadland” will recognize these and other stylistic cues from Zhao, and to be fair, sometimes the deliberate pacing feels a little more like slow and meandering, but the ending is good enough to forgive some imperfection along the way. Altogether, “Hamnet” has a lot to offer, but you have to be a little patient with the experience.
—
“Hamnet” is rated PG-13 for intense scenes and adult content, including one sex scene that feels like it’s pushing that rating.