Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet is almost here, and the trailer is almost too much for my little heart to bear.
Paul Mescal (Aftersun) and Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter) lead this deeply moving adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s lauded novel. It’s based on the relationship of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, and the devastating loss of their 11-year-old son Hamnet, whose death occurred a few years before the playwright penned Hamlet.
If you can get through this trailer and Max Richter’s swirling heart-punch of a score, something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
As Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko writes in her review, “Hamnet could be an unconventional but strong Oscar contender. But whether you’re invested in awards season or just seeking a powerful drama from actors at the top of their form, be sure to bring tissues. Hamnet could leave you tear-soaked and in tatters.”
After showing at BFI London Film Festival, Hamnet opens in select theaters in the US on Nov. 27, expanding nationwide on Dec. 12.
