HAMNET

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For anyone who has been living under a stone, this is the adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel about the death of the son of Anne Hathaway and William Shakespeare.

Since the film is undeniably a powerfully emotional experience the main criticism that can be levelled at it is that ultimately it's just a piece of skilful manipulation, because of course the death of a young child is bound to be upsetting. 

Well, I would argue that to create something so emotionally shattering (and yet also uplifting) is no mean feat, which is why so very few films achieve it.  

It requires at the very least the superlative level of craftsmanship on view, from the towering performances by Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal to the exquisite score by Max Richter.

Having said that, if the film had ended simply with Hamnet's death, heart-breaking though that is, I might reluctantly have agreed that this film does nothing which is that exceptional. 

What really elevates it are the final scenes at the Globe Theatre which lift the emotional intensity off the chart, as we (and Anne) come to realise just how deeply William has been affected, leading him to express it in the play 'Hamlet’.  

Her desperate desire to lock eyes with him so as to console him, and our first sight of Hamlet on stage, cle For anyone who has been living under a stone, this is the adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel about the death of the son of Anne Hathaway and William Shakespeare.

Since the film is undeniably a powerfully emotional experience the main criticism that can be levelled at it is that ultimately it's just a piece of skilful manipulation, because of course the death of a young child is bound to be upsetting. 

Well, I arly intended to be an older version of Hamnet, are moments that are going to stay with me for a long time.

And although it is Buckley's extraordinary performance that underpins the film, Mescal really delivers when he comes on stage as the ghost of Hamlet's father, à moment which had me in bits.

I guess Buckley and Mescal are going to receive most of the accolades to be showered on this picture (understandably so) but credit must also go to director and co-writer Chloé Zhao, which means I really have no excuse for not watching her Oscar-winning 'Nomadland'.

RATING: ✓✓✓ Absolutely Fabulous

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