What happens when grief becomes creation? In Hamnet, director Chloé Zhao tells an intimate story of loss, love, and imagination. Set in 16th-century England, the film follows Agnes and William Shakespeare as they navigate the death of their young son; an event that may have inspired one of his greatest works.
Quiet, sensory, and deeply moving, Hamnet is a film that stays with you.
Genre: epic historical drama
Language: English , subtitles: Dutch
Length: 2 hrs 5 mins (2025)
In 16th-century England, we follow Agnes and William Shakespeare, a couple who live in close harmony with nature, family, and the rhythm of daily life. When their young son Hamnet dies unexpectedly, the loss leaves a deep wound in the family.
While Agnes bears her grief in silence and physical memory, William seeks solace in his work and imagination. Their mourning unfolds not in grand words, but in gestures, landscapes, and moments of closeness.
Slowly, a process emerges in which loss does not disappear, but transforms, and ultimately finds its way into the creation of one of the most famous plays in history.
With Hamnet, Chloé Zhao delivers a restrained, sensory adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel. Zhao’s characteristic focus on silence, nature, and inner experience makes Hamnet not a classic historical drama, but an intimate study of grief and creativity.
Breaking hearts and mending them in one fell swoop, Hamnet speculates on the inspiration behind Shakespeare's masterpiece with palpable emotional force thanks to Jessie Buckley (who won the Oscar for best actress for this role) and Paul Mescal's astonishing performances.
Awards
Hamnet won the People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and later won Best Motion Picture – Drama at the 2026 Golden Globes. It also received eight Academy Award nominations, and Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her performance.
Reviews
“So emotionally raw as to be almost excruciating at times.” Variety
“Technically the film is exceptional with stunning cinematography.” Deadline
“It wants to devastate you without depressing you... That's what this movie is going for, and it absolutely achieves it.”Filmweek
“This film succeeds, not because it solves the mystery, but because it deepens it still further. It is contrived and speculative, but ingenious and impassioned at the same time.” The Guardian
Ticket information
This film will be shown at Filmhuis De Zwarte Doos.
- Tickets must be purchased online in advance and can be bought by clicking the black “Order” button on this page.
- Cash or card payments are not accepted at the ticket counter.
For more information about tickets, refund policies, and other details, click here.
Please be on time
The screening of the film begin promptly at 19:30 (with no pre-film advertisements), and the cinema hall will open at 19:10. We kindly request that you arrive at the ticket counter at least 10 minutes beforethe start of the film to ensure a smooth and timely experience for all.
The Studium Generale film program is created in collaboration with the Student Film Committee and Natlab.