Hamnet tells the story of Shakespeare and his family, and imagines how the tragedy behind Hamlet may have come into being. At its heart is Agnes Shakespeare and her life with her three children. The film follows the devastating death of her eleven-year-old son, Hamnet, and the grief that slowly overwhelms the entire family. Adapted from Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, the film beautifully captures the novel’s magical, intimate, and secretive atmosphere. It is visually stunning, but also deeply moving, especially in its portrayal of Agnes – wild, intuitive, and fiercely independent – and of Shakespeare himself, torn between his artistic ambition and his family life. A heartbreaking and beautiful film
What is given may be taken away at any time. We must never let our guard down. Never take for granted that our children‘s hearts beat, that they draw breath, that they walk and speak and smile, argue, play. Never forget for a moment that they may be gone.”