A LOVE LETTER TO SHAKESPEARE, AND TO WRITERS EVERYWHERE

This week I watched a film that I already consider one of my favorites of this awards season in Hollywood. It’s Hamnet, co-written and directed by Chloé Zhao - the Chinese filmmaker best known for Nomadland, which earned her the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Director in 2020 - and based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell.

The film portrays the real relationship between William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, and the tragic death (forgive the spoiler) of their son, Hamnet, a loss said to have inspired Shakespeare to create his most famous play, Hamlet.

The production stars Jessie Buckley (as Agnes), the Irish actress and singer known to wider audiences for The Lost Daughter and Wicked Little Letters, both alongside Olivia Colman. Paul Mescal - also Irish, recognized for The Lost Daughter and the 2024 blockbuster Gladiator II - plays the young William Shakespeare. Both have been widely praised by critics for their performances in Hamnet.

I was particularly struck by Jessie’s work, which is the emotional backbone of the film. After the screening at the Directors Guild in Los Angeles, the director, Jessie, and supporting actors Joe Alwyn and brothers Jacobi and Noah Jupe spoke with the audience. I filmed Jessie talking about the special relationship she developed with Chloé Zhao during production, the video is posted here for you to watch.

The final scene moved me deeply. It’s a sequence that, to me, goes beyond a powerful ending to the story. It feels like a declaration of love for Shakespeare and for all writers, whether in literature, theater, or the audiovisual arts. After all, they are the ones who manage to overcome what even doctors cannot: the conquest of death.

Hamnet premiered at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival on August 29, 2025, and will roll out gradually starting November 26 in the U.S. before expanding worldwide. Don’t miss it. And bring tissues.

#Hamnet #ChloeZhao #JessieBuckley #PaulMescal #Shakespeare #Hamlet