In 16th-century England, William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, struggle to cope with the loss of their young son, Hamnet. Their grief strains their relationship, with William channeling his emotions into his writing, while Agnes must find the strength to care for their surviving children. Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) brings a raw honesty to this poignant exploration of grief in her adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel, featuring powerful performances by Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.

‘Like Nomadland, another film that maps out rocky terrain with impressionistic grace, Hamnet is a deep-felt ode to loss and resilience. Zhao doesn’t just tell you about the healing power of art, she shows you. Prepare your tear ducts accordingly.’
★★★★★
Phil de Semlyen, Time Out

‘The ending, set in the Globe during a production of Hamlet, is harrowing, meaningful and magnificently sad. You might want to yell out, “Make it stop!” This is, instantly, the essential Shakespeare movie.’
★★★★★
Kevin Maher, The Times