Hamnet

Tension: Will they heal or break apart?  Theme: How we see death changes throughout our lives Writing: Gosh, so many chills during this one. There was just so much humanity and family in it, you can see how so much of what happened inspired Shakespeare’s plays. But at the same time they didn’t want to make it about that, his name was really only said once. And if anything it was Anne’s (Anya’s?) movie from her perspective for the most part. There was some beautiful symbolism with the crevices and the forest mirrored in the stage. And the hawk being seen from above again, showing whether or not it was heaven. And that switcheroo really pulled one on me, I was not expecting that. Some interesting elements of magic/mysticism/something I don’t know what to call. With the visions and everything and how they stopped. But at the same time her vision of the son came true. Also, it’s really hard to balance crazy and empathy but it was so well done here. And for a moment during the birth scene they showed something I had never seen before in a film. But the first birth scene; why did homegirl just do it all alone??? The forest helped her I guess lol. Also supporting characters just had some great depth too like the mothers.  Acting: The acting in this was top tier. I can definitely see a best actress award coming from this. Also the children were phenomenal actors as well gosh they were asked to do some really hard things too. And the to be or not to be scene at the dock felt so right, more right than in Hamlet when he monologues surprisingly.  Cinematography: Those push in shots of those motifs 👌and the shot with the actors practicing in the background but we just stay on Mescal throughout anyways.  Production Design: The house was so beautiful, I get why she wouldn’t want to move for the other reasons but that too lol. Super simple overall, because it was about their family mainly and it didn’t need to be about more than that if the story didn’t require it.  Sound: BEAUTIFUL soundtrack, it was giving Tree of Life vibes a bit.  Editing: ^Tree of Life vibes again at certain points.