‘Hamnet’A film about the loss of William Shakespeare’s son shows how differently couples can grieve.
While many films feature death and grief, they don’t always seem to fully understand the concepts. Filmmaking often simplifies and embellishes such subjects, but the 2025 film “Hamnet” by Chloé […]
While many films feature death and grief, they don’t always seem to fully understand the concepts.
Filmmaking often simplifies and embellishes such subjects, but the 2025 film “Hamnet” by Chloé Zhao dives into the rawest and most honest depictions of a couple’s grief. Based on the historical fiction novel of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell, the film portrays a family devastated by the loss of a child — and the husband and father of that child is none other than the Bard, William Shakespeare.
The Premise of “Hamnet”
“Hamnet” centers on the young couple, William Shakespeare and Agnes Hathaway, as they fall in love and raise a family together. Although Shakespeare is one of the main characters, he is not revealed by name until the final act of the film, which allows the audience to relate to him instead of revering him.
While the couple struggles with common issues – such as Shakespeare’s absence while he writes, Agnes’s difficult childbirth, and antagonistic family members – they are otherwise a happy and seemingly normal family, until disaster strikes.
The couple’s only son, Hamnet, is stricken by the bubonic plague and dies. Jacobi Jupe, who portrays Hamnet, delivers a striking performance in the film, allowing you to connect with his character and truly feel the loss alongside his family.
Grief Can Manifest In Many Different Ways
The film does not shy away from the traumatic experience of Hamnet’s death and the subsequent grief the family experiences as a result. Jessie Buckley, who recently won an Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Agnes in the film, does a particularly stellar job of showing the unpolished and uncomposed grief that follows the loss of a child. Her grief rages and resurfaces in heartbreaking ways, particularly in the hauntingly memorable scene where she recounts to her absent husband that Hamnet died in agony.
Another noteworthy depiction of grief in Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” is the asymmetry in Agnes and William’s coping mechanisms. While Agnes tends to grieve through the physical world, such as gardening and family rituals, William flees to writing and immortalizing Hamnet’s memory in his plays—birthing one of his most famous works, Hamlet. The film does an excellent job of showing how a loving couple grieves differently, and how such differences can cause them to feel estranged and deeply incompatible.
The Powerful Symbolism in “Hamnet”
While many films would try to tie up those raw symptoms of grief with a neat bow, “Hamnet,” thankfully, does not. The film does not provide a simple fix or reprieve to the couple’s grief or estrangement. Ultimately, it shows that no one way of grieving is better than another.
At the end of the film, Agnes attends Hamlet and catches a glimpse of how her husband has grieved and honored their son’s memory by viewing the play. The audience, however, must remain with the tension and trauma Hamnet’s death caused the cast of characters.
In the final act, where Agnes reaches out toward the character of Hamlet at the Globe Theatre, lies a powerful literal and figurative visual that represents her understanding and acceptance of her and her husband’s grief. The use of the score “On the Nature of Daylight” in the scene was an emotionally dynamic choice, as well.
The film isn’t perfect; the middle act feels sluggish, and the London world that occupied William so thoroughly doesn’t feel nearly as fleshed out as Agnes’s domestic world. Still, in terms of portraying grief, Hamnet feels devastatingly authentic.
Conclusion
For those who have experienced the loss of a child or close family member, or are handling relationship conflicts due to symptoms of grief, Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” may feel cathartic and resourceful. However, for those earlier in the grief journey, it may be best to allow some time to pass before watching.
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