"Hamnet" — a masterpiece inspired by Shakespeare's life story. And the brilliant acting of actresses we know from "Chernobyl"

Irish actress Jessie Buckley as Agnes, Shakespeare's wife. Photo: still from the trailer

In a small 16th-century English town lives a girl named Agnes. She spends her time walking through the forest with a falcon on her glove and knows all medicinal herbs. Her idyllic life is interrupted by a young Latin teacher, who is not frightened by the falcon or the rumors that Agnes is the daughter of a forest witch.

They start a family. Agnes does not break her ties with the forest and even goes into the forest to give birth to her first daughter. It seems like only happiness awaits, but Agnes sees that her husband feels confined in small Stratford, suffocated by the stories he tries to put on paper at night. So the woman sends her husband to where life is bustling — to London.

Павялічыць

Film poster

For most of the film, we are not told her husband's name. But if an attentive viewer hears the word "Juliet" that he mentions over his papers, and correlates the country and time of the events, they will, of course, guess who is being discussed. And they will understand that great success awaits the man in London.

While William (played by Irish actor Paul Mescal) becomes a living legend, Agnes remains in Stratford. They already have three children. Besides the eldest, Susan, there is also the frail Judith, who drains much of her mother's strength, and her twin brother Hamnet. As explained at the beginning of the film, in the 16th century, the names Hamnet and Hamlet were considered essentially identical.

As is known from history, Hamnet Shakespeare died in 1596. A few years later, "Hamlet" appeared — Shakespeare's longest play and one of his most important works. And, as some researchers believe, "Hamlet" could have been Shakespeare's attempt to re-examine and come to terms with the tragedy in his family.

Павялічыць

Irish actor Paul Mescal, known for the series "Normal People," plays William Shakespeare. Photo: still from the trailer

In 2020, Irish author Maggie O'Farrell turned this story into a novel. Little is known about the young Hamnet, and there is no confirmation that "Hamlet" is indeed related to him, so O'Farrell's novel is simply her vision of what this story could have been.

The novel was adapted for the screen by Chloé Zhao, a director who needs no introduction in Hollywood. As early as 2021, Zhao received an "Oscar" for "Nomadland" — a dark and complex film about a middle-aged American woman who loses her job and travels across the USA in a van.

In "Hamnet," Zhao does not deviate from her cinematic views. This film is full of beautiful landscapes, shot by the excellent Polish cinematographer Łukasz Żal. Through this cinematic language, Zhao tells the story of a heroine who cannot live without nature, who possesses the same unrestrained vital force within her as nature itself.

Павялічыць

Photo: still from the trailer

This incredibly vivid image was brought to life by Irish actress Jessie Buckley. And if her face seems familiar to you, you're not mistaken: in the 2019 "Chernobyl" series, beloved by Belarusians, Buckley played Lyudmilla Ignatenko, wife of Vasily Ignatenko, a Belarusian liquidator of the Chernobyl disaster. By the way, another star of "Hamnet," Emily Watson, played Ulyana Khomyuk — a Belarusian nuclear physicist — in "Chernobyl." Now, in "Hamnet," Watson embodies Shakespeare's mother.

During the "Chernobyl" era, to prepare for her role, Buckley read, among other things, Svetlana Alexievich's "Chernobyl Prayer." I don't know what she read while preparing for the filming of "Hamnet," but she delivered a role of immense power. Buckley is incredibly sincere in this work. She tells the story of motherhood and loss through Shakespeare's wife and doesn't cling to unnecessary details, but rather immerses the viewer in feelings, and first and foremost, in her heroine's great pain.

For this role, the Irish actress has already been honored with a host of awards, including a "Golden Globe," and in March, she will probably receive an "Oscar" as well.

Павялічыць

Photo: still from the trailer

The duo of Buckley and director Zhao worked well together here; for Zhao, the state of a person in time is more important than the plot, although the script of "Hamnet" doesn't sag. Together, they create a film that breathes this pain.

For some, "Hamnet" will have too many emotions. It is a complex film, but it is not a story with a bad ending. Perfectly crafted, "Hamnet" turns out to be a film not only about pain but also about the unbreakable human strength that allows one to overcome this pain. And about the untold story of a genius about whom, it seemed, everything possible had already been said.

• 8
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0