Hamnet tells the story of Agnes Shakespeare (Jessie Buckley) and her more famous wordsmith husband, William (Paul Mescal). The opening act carefully develops their relationship in the beautiful English town of Stratford-upon-Avon, charting their blossoming romance and the arrival of their children, Hamlet (Jacobi Jupe) and Judith (Olivia Lynes). Chasing his dream of becoming a playwright, William leaves for London, leaving Agnes to raise the children alone. Tragedy soon strikes in a deeply heartfelt way that is bound to leave many audience members in floods of tears, myself included, before leading into one of the most memorable final acts of the year.

Directed and co-written by Chloé Zhao, Hamnet may come across as heavy-handed to some, given its clear intention to be an emotional rollercoaster. For me, however, the carefully crafted characters, beautifully developed relationships, and outstanding performances ensure that the film lands almost flawlessly. This is coming from someone who has studied Shakespeare extensively since childhood and has grown worn out by stories surrounding him. Zhao somehow manages to conjure her magic and make Hamnet feel like a completely fresh take on a story that has been told countless times before.

Jacobi Jupe, despite only appearing in the first half of the film, delivers one of the strongest child performances I have seen this year. On this evidence alone, he undoubtedly has a bright career ahead of him. Paul Mescal, in more of a supporting role, is solid, but it is Jessie Buckley who shines brightest in what is easily her career best performance to date. From start to finish, she is fully committed to the role, and you can feel the pain and anguish her character experiences almost as if it were happening to her in real life, a truly transformative performance.

Technically, Hamnet is just as impressive. From the production design and costumes that fully immerse the audience in 1500s England, to the score that beautifully accompanies each scene, and the cinematography that delivers striking, memorable images throughout, the film feels accomplished in every department. Hamnet is the full package and fully deserving of the awards buzz it has already received and the many accolades still to come.