It is not as much a film about William Shakespeare, but about love and loss and grief made real through the centuries with exquisite storytelling and acting.
For those who love The Bard, this will give a look at his life not from the dry pages of a book, but from the eyes of his wife, his children and, finally, through those of the poet himself. Will is a Latin teacher, young and poor and desperately in love with Agnes, the beautiful, fiery daughter of his landlord and a “forest witch”, a woman deeply connected to the land and its healing powers. They have three children – Mary, their first child, and twins – Jude and Hamnet. Their life is filled with simple joys until “that space within” Will to write plays grows so hungry that he must go to London. The interplay of emotions between Will and Agnes is so real it is at times painful to watch.
This exceptional adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel Hamnet is more about Agnes than Will. We see the world through her eyes, her fierce love of the forest, her children and her husband. Jesse Buckley’s performance in this role is Oscar material. There is no grandstanding. Indeed, much of the speaking is done in emotionally charged whispers between the parents – creating scenes of such intensity that their feelings reach out from the screen and settle in your soul. The death of their young son Hamnet rips through the family, Anges becoming angry and bitter that Will was in London when the boy died in her arms. Devastated, Will once again withdraws to “that space within” and steeps himself in writing the grief of his own emotions through the life of the Danish prince.
I have seen many excellent performances of The Tragedy of Hamlet but this is the first time I have felt the agony of a mother who has lost her son, and the searing regret of a father who was not there for them when they endured this death and loss and pain. Paul Mescal’s portrayal of William Shakespeare is unlike any other. In this film, he is not “The Bard”, but simply a man whose love of family is – almost – as powerful as is his creative drive. When we finally see the play performed at The Globe, we literally get to see behind the curtain as Will directs and performs in the play, his torment and his brilliance on full display.
Director Zhao takes her time to build this backstory, drenching it in gorgeous cinematography. The music by Max Richter is haunting, sparingly and purposefully used. He eschews the temptation to fill it with period instruments, which makes it all the more intense as it weaves in and out of the emotions playing out before us.
You know how Hamlet ends. And now you get to glimpse at the real lives of Hamnet, Jude, Mary, Will and Agnes. So why go see this movie? Simply put, to see acting at it’s finest, and bring the agony, love and fierce spirit of this little family to life in a way that will reach out to you through the centuries. You will never see the stage play of Hamlet the same way again. And that is exactly what great storytelling should do.