Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in 'Hamnet,' directed by Chloé Zhao. UNIVERSAL PICTURES
Le Monde's verdict – Masterpiece
Emotion in cinema – especially when it comes to film criticism – is an uncertain matter that must be handled with care. Everyone brings their own subjectivity, lived experience and sensitivity. Stories that move some viewers to tears may leave others coldly indifferent. And there is no doubt that Hamnet, Chloé Zhao's new film (The Rider, 2018; Nomadland, 2021), adapted from the novel by Maggie O'Farrell, will leave many by the wayside. But for those who truly connect with this story, the feature will leave an indelible mark – a result of a shockwave that owes as much to the beauty of its world and characters, to the power of Zhao's direction and to the talents assembled in front of and behind the camera as to the themes it explores.
In the vein of films such as Portrait de la jeune fille en feu (Portrait of a Lady on Fire), directed by Céline Sciamma (2019), or Aftersun (2023), directed by Charlotte Wells, Hamnet has the stirring capacity to both warm and break hearts. It is no accident that the film, a recent Golden Globe winner for Best Motion Picture – Drama, has also garnered prestigious audience awards in recent months at the Toronto and London film festivals.
