Film: Hamnet [2025] – Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Jacobi Jupe

Hamnet is really talking about the power of stories, the power of narrative, the power of art. Absolutely beautiful film. Magnificent cinematography, terrific screenplay and sensational acting performances from Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.

Everything works magically for this perfect film that I would have never seen if my friend didn’t drag me to the cinema. Chloé Zhao does it again! After Nomadland and Eternals, her signature style is all over this one.

Hamnet is essentially the fictional story of how Hamlet, by Shakespeare came to be. Starring Mescal and Buckley, the film’s central character is a mother who believed that she was never meant to have more than 2 children, and a scholar and creative father who goes away to realize his dreams, only for his biggest achievement to be about the death of his only son, while he wasn’t there.

Some scenes in Hamnet will hurt your soul. You will smile, cry, sob, and feel all the feelings. And it’s all wrapped up in a perfect setting of great period sets, amazing cinematography, and perfect script and casting, even down to the children.

Jacobi Jupe has limited scenes, but he made me fall in love with him from his first scene, and cry when he died. His death scene hurts for multiple reasons. Buckley cry will forever be imprinted in my mind, and Jupe’s character “sacrificing” himself to protect his sister because his dad asked him to help with mom and sisters. Ouch.

All in all, it’s a perfect movie, not for the faint of heart. If you lost anyone, or came close to losing someone, this film will make you sob uncontrollably. And that’s a good thing!

Should you watch it?

True cinema. Hamnet is for the true cinephiles. Hits all the right notes, with great casting and amazing direction by Chloé Zhao.

Where can I watch it?

Hamnet is now playing in theaters.