Title – Hamnet (2025)

Director – Chloé Zhao (The Rider)

Cast – Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe

Plot – Explores the relationship between William (Mescal) and Agnes Shakespeare (Buckley) from a young couple right up to Will’s life in London where his written works such as Hamlet are inspired by life’s joys and trauma he and Agnes have experienced alongside one another.  

“He’s got more inside of him than any man I’ve ever met”

Review by Eddie on 30/01/2026

Recovering from somewhat of a post-Oscar triumph that saw her claim Best Director and Best Picture honours in 2021 thanks to her heartfelt Nomadland only to lead to the Marvel disaster that was The Externals, Chloé Zhao has bounced back in a major way with her profoundly moving and beautiful Hamnet.

An adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel whose producers include Sam Mendes and Steven Spielberg, Hamnet explores the relationship between William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes as they traverse the honeymoon period of their courtship right through to devastating family tragedy that helped shape create Shakespeare’s revered work on Hamlet.

Based both on hard facts and more unfounded details of the Shakespeare’s lives, Hamnet works as an historical exploration of one of history’s most famous figures, with the film bravely not afraid to keep William’s last name out of the spotlight until absolutely necessary, and as a work of fiction that casts Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley front and centre to one of recent memories most affecting and poignant romances.

Wonderfully captured by Zhao and her creative team, that includes deservedly noted work by composer Max Richter and cinematographer Lukasz Zal, Hamnet is an artistic achievement no doubt and the flow of its story and the way in which it transpires is refreshing compared with most po-faced historical/medieval dramas, but Hamnet is first and foremost an acting showpiece that gets some career best work from its cast members.

Winning a plethora of pre-Oscar gongs that have her as a short priced favourite to be this year’s Best Actress recipient, it’s hard not to shine a spotlight on Buckley when discussing Hamnet’s success as a hauntingly moving tale with the Irish born actress a revelation here as the complex and determined Agnes.

Putting together a great body of work over the past decade, Buckley has always been a talent but here under the guidance of Zhao Buckley comes to terms with her ability, delivering a knockout turn that is full of soul, gentleness and fiery spirit, with her mere silent looks enough to make the finale portion of Hamnet some of the most heart wrenching and equally uplifting I can recall.

Working alongside the noted talents of Mescal, who sadly wasn’t able to gain an individual nomination at the Oscars in the stacked Best Actor category, Buckley and her co-star are flawless and get noteworthy support from young rising star Jacobi Jupe who much like his brother Noah is sure to find a comfortable place in Hollywood with Jacobi’s turn as Hamnet here as good as we’ve seen from a young performer in the past decade.

A film that’s not afraid to break you equally as much as inspire you, Hamnet is a film for anyone looking for a challenging yet accessible human drama that works for those wanting a Shakespearian experience and those seeking a carefully considered romantic drama that is very likely to be regarded as a modern classic in the years soon to come.

Final Say –

A worthy recipient of it’s 8 Oscar nominations that’s sure to lead to glory for its leading lady, Hamnet is a stunning return to form for Chloé Zhao and a wonderful showcase for its cast, just make sure to bring a packet of tissues…or two.

4 1/2 Latin lessons out of 5