Hamnet: Chloe Zhao's Powerful Examination of Coping with Unimaginable Loss (Blu-ray)

The Film:

It seems like every couple of years we'll get another adaptation of one of William Shakespeare's plays for the big screen, with any attempt to add all of them up at this point appearing to be a near-impossible task. However, what's far more rare are films about the bard himself, ones that dig into his private life and his remarkable talent for penning the most famous plays ever written. Some of these have been highly fictitious, such as the brilliant "Shakespeare in Love," which earned multiple Academy Awards, while others have tried to be a little more down-to-Earth, like "All is True," which centers on the last few years of his life with a combination of fact & fiction.

This brings us to another film that's somewhat similar to the latter, Chloe Zhao's "Hamnet," based on the novel by Maggie O'Farrell, in which fiction is once again mixed with fact to speculate how Shakespeare and his wife attempted to cope with the tragic death of their young son. It's a rather fascinating topic that could make for quite the emotional journey in the hands of a skilled filmmaker, a description that can most definitely be given to Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao. Will she be able to use her great talents to deliver an experience that strikes just the right level of emotion without straying into the dreaded realm of melodrama?

As the film opens, we meet Agnes (Jessie Buckley), a young woman known as the daughter of a "Forest Witch" who's well-versed in herbs, and William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), who is currently working as a Latin tutor to pay off a debt for his father. The two meet and quickly fall in love, with Agnes subsequently getting pregnant, and disowned by her family, forcing her to move in with the Shakespeares. On his wife's advice, Will eventually goes to London to pursue his writing career, leaving Agnes behind with their daughter Susanna (Bodhi Rae Breathnach).

Shortly after, Agnes gives birth to twins Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe) and Judith (Olivia Lynes), with Will visiting on occasion over the next several years after having become a successful playwright. Soon the bubonic plague begins to terrorize England, causing Judith to become sick and nearly die. However, in his attempt to trick death from taking his sister, it is Hamnet who ends up being killed by the plague after Judith recovers, forcing the family to face one of the worst tragedies imaginable.

"All is True," the aforementioned film that examines the end of Shakespeare's life, touched quite a bit on the death of Hamnet, though it was more so a look at how the tragedy still affected him & his wife several years later. With "Hamnet," we get a study of its immediate effect on the family, one that becomes a heartbreaking, emotionally-rich examination of how Will & Agnes attempt to cope with the grief brought about by their son's untimely passing, a grief so devastating that one can't imagine them ever truly being able to accept it and move on.

For Agnes, there is obviously sadness, but also quite a lot of anger towards Will for not being present when Judith & Hamnet were sick. This puts a tremendous strain on their marriage, which is made even worse when he has to depart for London once more to continue work on his new play. Upon discovering that his play is called "Hamlet" (an interchangeable form of "Hamnet"), she becomes determined to see it herself and is initially offended at the use of his name, but as she soon finds out, the play has actually been Will's release mechanism for dealing with the loss of their son. The play itself becomes his way of not only trying to cope with the grief, but also to immortalize their son for all time, a dawning realization that Agnes comes to as the story unfolds before her, bringing with it an understanding that we can only hope will lead to healing the rift that has formed between her & her husband.

This kind of story would be completely impossible without actors who are able to convey that level of complicated emotion, the kind of emotion that shows how grief can eat away at the soul if not faced head on, which is why one can hardly begin to express the brilliance with which Jessie Buckley & Paul Mescal handle these parts. Mescal's displays of frustration at the separation & trying to get the play right, and his eventual execution of his part in it are phenomenal. However, the most extraordinary transformation belongs to Buckley, whose emotional turmoil masterfully turns into an epiphany that has her understanding what her husband has done. It's hardly a wonder that she has been winning awards for her performance everywhere, and remains the strong frontrunner for the Best Actress Oscar.

Overall, if there are any flaws to be found with the film, it would be that it does take quite a while to get a move on. That is to say, it takes its time with Will & Agnes' courtship, them settling down together, and having their kids, but if you're patient, you're eventually treated to one of the most emotionally powerful films of the year, one that acts as a marvelous examination of grief and how someone can even begin to come to terms with unimaginable loss, told with sheer beauty from beginning to end with its gorgeous cinematography, production design, and costumes. There's most certainly a reason it's been declared one of the best films of 2025 ever since it premiered at Telluride last year and subsequently racked up an incredible eight Oscar nominations that includes Best Picture. It's simply an unforgettable experience that should not be missed.

Video/Audio:

"Hamnet" comes to Blu-ray in a 1.78:1, 1080p High Definition transfer of excellent quality. The picture is amazingly sharp & clear throughout the entire 126-minute duration, perfectly highlighting the film's gorgeous cinematography and its Oscar-nominated Production Design & Costumes. Likewise, the Dolby Atmos audio track is marvelous, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and Max Richter's Oscar-nominated score in outstanding quality. Overall, Universal has done a fantastic job in both areas for the film's physical debut.

Special Features:

Commentary with Director Chloe Zhao

Family is Forever (7 Minutes): A featurette that explores the cast.

Cultivating Creativity (5 Minutes): A featurette that discusses director Chloe Zhao.

Recreating the Tudor Period (10 Minutes): A featurette that takes a look at the film's production design, costumes, and cinematography.

Conclusion:

Chloe Zhao's "Hamnet," based on the novel by Maggie O'Farrell, is a heartbreaking examination of attempting to cope with grief brought on by unimaginable loss, featuring two brilliant lead performances from Jessie Buckley & Paul Mescal, and stunningly gorgeous visuals throughout. It may take a bit to get to the real substance of its narrative, but if you're patient, you're ultimately treated to an emotionally powerful experience that stands as one of the best films of its year.

Score: 4.5/5

Available on Blu-ray starting tomorrow.

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