Shadows on the Wall

Hamnet

Review by Rich Cline | MUST SEE

dir Chloe Zhao
scr Chloe Zhao, Maggie O'Farrell
prd Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Liza Marshall, Nicolas Gonda
with Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Joe Alwyn, Emily Watson, Noah Jupe, Jacobi Jupe, Olivia Lynes, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Justine Mitchell, David Wilmot, Freya Hannan-Mills, Dainton Anderson
release US 27.Nov.25,
UK 9.Jan.26
25/UK Focus 2h05

TORONTO FILM FEST

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Gifted filmmaker Chloe Zhao takes an elemental approach to this adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel about William Shakespeare. The film reverberates with its own natural rhythms, drawing us into the 16th century story of a young couple struggling with the issues of their day. And the way this plays out is simply glorious, offering a final act that draws on the considerable powers of Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.

A lover of the forest who is considered a witch by locals, Agnes (Buckley) can't help but notice new tutor Will (Mescal), who teaches Latin to her little brothers but flirts with her. Soon they are handfast, then married when she becomes pregnant with daughter Susanna (Breathnach), later joined by twins Judith (Lynes) and Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe). Meanwhile, Will has begun working in London as a playwright, so he's often away from home. Agnes relies on her brother (Alwyn) and mother-in-law (Watson), but struggles to cope when Judith becomes deathly ill while Will is away.

From the opening shot, this film bristles with earthy humanity, vividly connecting these people to nature. At its core, the film is a bracingly powerful exploration of instinct, and how emotions connect and divide us for a reason. It's simply beautiful to see this expressed through the life of this fragile family, drawing on the realities of the period while weaving in elements from Shakespeare's work to provocatively explore the power of art to soothe the churning storm inside us.

Both Buckley and Mescal deliver stunningly textured performances that come from the gut, continually taking us aback with honest explosions of yearning. Their early scenes together are sweet and sexy, and they deepen and broaden their connection as the relationship develops over about 15 years, leading to the devastating loss of a child. This is wrenching, unforgettable work that connects to the audience with an unusual immediacy. And casting the gifted Noah Jupe (Jacobi's big brother) as the on-stage Hamlet in the final act is a stroke of genius.

Zhao also has an expert crew on board, including cinematographer Lukasz Zal, editor Affonso Concalves, composer Max Richter and sound design genius Johnnie Burn. These components are crafted together in a way that's warmly involving and occasionally heart-stopping. This is rich, nuanced, elegantly haunting storytelling that beautifully evokes an almost overwhelming range of emotions. And at its heart, this is a lovely reminder of why we need art in our lives.

themes, language, violence, sexuality 11.Oct.25 lff

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