William Shakespeare's reputation as the foremost writer in English remains secure, despite some debate regarding whether he was truly responsible for the works attributed to him. Details about his personal life are similarly unclear, leading to considerable speculation concerning how those aspects may have shaped his literary creations. This new film from writer-director Chloé Zhao explores this connection, appearing on screen as an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell's popular novel, Hamnet—with O’Farrell also contributing to the screenplay. The movie offers a fictional account of how Shakespeare’s most famous play, Hamlet, originated. The story suggests that the stage production (where “Hamlet” and “Hamnet” were used interchangeably during Shakespeare’s era) arose from grief and as a way of coping after the author (Paul Mescal) and his wife, Agnes (Jessie Buckley), lost their young son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), to illness—likely bubonic plague. The film implies that the tragic but heroic Hamlet is a fictional tribute to Shakespeare’s brave, honorable, yet unfortunate child, though it's difficult to see how an 11-year-old boy from rural England could be linked to a Danish prince. The process of bringing the play to life frequently caused tension between Will and Agnes, as he worked on it in London while she managed their home in Stratford-on-Avon. Throughout this time, the couple struggled with their feelings of loss, something Shakespeare hoped to express through his work. While this sentiment is admirable (and effectively conveyed in the film’s final fifteen minutes), the overall presentation falls short. The movie benefits from excellent performances—particularly those of Buckley and Noah Jupe as Hamlet, although Mescal occasionally seems overly theatrical—along with a beautiful score, striking visuals, and impressive period-accurate production design. Despite these strengths, the film feels overlong and would benefit from tighter editing and a more polished script, one that avoids repetitive and jarring elements, especially the awkward mixing of Shakespearean dialogue onstage with contemporary conversations offstage. These flaws contribute to a frequently tedious story; several people at the screening I attended actually dozed off. The screenplay also seems to assume viewers have extensive knowledge of both the play itself and Shakespeare’s biography, which places a considerable burden on the audience. Ultimately, “Hamnet” is a significant letdown—a clear attempt to attract awards attention based solely on its subject matter and perceived importance. This kind of self-important filmmaking has become tiresome, and unfortunately, this film continues that pattern.

Source on TMDB