Hamnet

“What is grief, if not love persevering?”A line from WandaVision that Chloé Zhao often quotes in her speeches perfectly captures the soul of this film. When the movie ended, I was left stunned and speechless, letting myself feel the love and grief that the story wanted us to experience. I started this movie with high expectations, and it did not disappoint. Paul Mescal’s roles always seem to be the broken ones. This was my first time actually watching him, despite having many of his films on my watchlist, and it is clear that these kinds of roles work best for him. He carries a vulnerability that feels incredibly real. Jessie Buckley’s performance was also outstanding. I used to wonder, “Who is this Buckley who keeps sweeping Best Actress nominations?” Well, she definitely made herself known to me. I have never felt such a strong urge to dive into a performer’s filmography immediately after watching a single movie. The casting of the Jupe brothers was honestly genius. Their portrayal of Hamnet and the fictional Hamlet creates a hauntingly beautiful symmetry that grounds the entire story. They represent two sides of the same coin: one represents the cold finality of death, while the other represents the vibrant energy of life through art. That specific scene where Hamnet lay beside Judith really broke me—the way he wanted to take her sickness and pain as his own just so she could live. And damn, when Agnes reached for Hamlet, seeing her son in him, and he reached out for everyone before dying… it was just too much. I couldn’t help but cry. And of course, Joe Alwyn always delivers. Every movie he is in seems to slap every single time, ngl. Ultimately, this movie proves that love can conquer all, whatever it takes. Chloé Zhao’s directorial vision is insane. She has this way of capturing intimate, quiet moments that make the heavy themes feel so personal. She shows us that love is grieving, and grieving is love. Hamnet may never grow old, but through art, appreciation, and love, Hamlet lives on.