Chloé Zhao's Hamnet Explores Shakespearean Family Grief and Loss

Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao and based on Maggie O'Farrell's novel, is a period drama exploring the grief of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes (Anne Hathaway) following the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet. The film focuses on intimate family life in 16th-century England, emphasizing quiet emotion and the impact of loss on the couple. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal lead the cast, with the narrative highlighting Agnes's connection to nature and the subtle unfolding of grief, while also suggesting the tragedy's influence on Shakespeare's later work.