In the film "Hamnet," Paul Mescal portrays a heartbroken William Shakespeare, whose profound sorrow after losing his child serves as a catalyst that eventually inspires him to write "Hamlet." This poignant transformation is at the heart of the story.
From the outset of the film, cinematographer Łukasz Żal and director Chloé Zhao aimed to highlight the stark contrasts between Will and his wife Agnes, played by Jessie Buckley. They utilized framing and location creatively to underscore these differences.
When audiences first meet Agnes, she embodies a free spirit in an expansive setting that feels open and inviting. In contrast, Will is depicted as being trapped within the confines of his own mind. Żal describes this by saying, "He is stuck in his family house, this place where he’s always teaching. The windows are small, and he’s always inside, always in a structure." This visual representation evokes a sense of emotional suffocation.
Żal also sought to capture the enchantment of love between Agnes and Will. He explains, "What you feel, how you look at somebody’s eyes. You’re also very present, and the world looks beautiful. When they are together, we become closer and follow the emotions." This intimate portrayal allows viewers to connect deeply with their romance.
However, the tragedy of their son Hamnet’s death casts a long shadow over their lives. Following this event, the mood shifts dramatically; the skies darken and the vibrant colors fade from the scenes. Żal notes, "They are alone in their frames, and they’re not connected anymore. The camera is still, slow and uncomfortably slow," emphasizing their isolation in grief.
Costume designer Malgosia Turzanska mirrored Will’s emotional journey through her thoughtful designs. Drawing inspiration from sportswear, she padded Will’s clothing as a form of armor against the emotional turmoil inflicted by his abusive father. She also incorporated slashes in his sleeves that start off small but grow larger and longer, symbolizing his escalating struggles.
A subtle yet powerful detail, a toothpick worn as a necklace, represents his father’s relentless criticism. Following Hamnet's death, Will travels to London, ultimately completing "Hamlet." When the play premieres at the Globe Theatre, he takes on the role of the ghost. Turzanska researched the history of ghost costumes and learned that linen was traditionally used for burial shrouds. This inspired her to dress Will in linen and coat him in clay, reflecting his shattered state. At the film’s conclusion, when he washes off the clay, it signifies his release from that burden.
Composer Max Richter describes the score during this moment, noting that when Will cleanses himself of the clay, "He just sort of breaks to pieces." He elaborates, "This is the almost darkened version of this choral, vocal cloud, which we’ve had from the beginning, connected to Agnes and nature. But it’s almost like the cloud of a moonless night. So it’s kind of super dark.”
Reflecting on his portrayal of Will, Mescal shares, "I didn’t think about navigating it from, like, love to grief. I think I looked at it as analyzing somebody’s life." He expresses excitement about showcasing the spectrum of emotions, explaining, "The more that we could really make an audience feel these two people were madly in love with each other, the more that we would feel the loss of their connection in the middle act and the final act a little bit." Mescal sees the visual representation of cracks on his face as a powerful metaphor for Will’s internal struggle.
In one poignant scene, Mescal acknowledges the pressure to "land the plane" from the perspective of his character. He observes how deeply Agnes’ grief resonates, particularly as she spends much of the film at home with their remaining children. This dynamic offers Will a unique opportunity to engage the audience, allowing them to witness the profound impact of Hamnet's loss on his psyche.
