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Hamnet: Chloé Zhao’s Award-Winning Take on Shakespeare's Grief

11/26/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The film "Hamnet," directed by Chloé Zhao, uses magical realism to explore William Shakespeare's grief after his son Hamnet's death and links it to Hamlet.
Critics label the film absurd and overly sentimental, portraying Shakespeare as bumbling.
The film has generated hype and won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
It opens in theaters on November 26, 2025.

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Story summary

The film "Hamnet," directed by Chloé Zhao, uses magical realism to explore William Shakespeare's grief after his son Hamnet's death and links it to Hamlet.
Critics label the film absurd and overly sentimental, portraying Shakespeare as bumbling.
The film has generated hype and won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
It opens in theaters on November 26, 2025.