I loved this film so much. I can’t remember the last time I wept through a film like that. I wasn’t prepared for the accuracy of grief depicted. Her scream pierced through my heart and took me back to my best friends funeral. His mother made that same sound when they took his body away. And Agnes’ immediate confusion after that moment, where her eyes are searching and nothing is making sense, that is what it felt like when my husband died. And those moments are truly so visceral I can’t wrap my head around how anyone could act them with that kind of truth. Even having lived through grief so deeply, I don’t think I could translate it on screen like that. And little Hamnet?! How is he so good?! It’s still blowing my mind.
Thanks for sharing this piece. None of my friends are into this but this film has been clanging around my brain since I saw it.
Wow the silence the pain I felt everyone’s grief in that cinema tonight I cannot describe how I’m feeling right now I’m stunned moved and totally exhausted that scene with Hamnet , I’ve never seen that in a film before Jessie Buckley is incredible as are all the cast . My best friend lots both her parents last year I was close to them I grieved for them and her tonight and my father who died 20yrs ago suddenly. Wills mother ‘s monologue about her loss and how grief doesn’t fade . Less words and more facial expressions ensured this experience will stay with me forever
Great post Sis - I loved Hammet particularly the female visceral rawness it put on screen which is so rare. I too had that sense of all of us women giving birth - connected - very powerfully watching the movie; and during birth itself xxx
Saw it last night. I’ve never seen (or so accurately had a mirror held to my own experienc of childbirth and loss) the pain and devastation manifest into that most primal screen from our womb. She was excellent in the role and Paul Mescal was superb. They both gave more to the story and their character than I think I’ve ever seen before in a movie. I loved the book so much. Hamlet has always been one of my favorite stories. I felt utterly gutted and understood at the end. So so excellent.
I sobbed in the cinema and I sobbed at home for pretty much the whole evening. This film has left a mark on me for sure.
When I had my third baby only 16 weeks ago she didn’t immediately cry, and I remember panicking and asking if she was breathing. Only two years prior I had delivered my second baby and he too wasn’t breathing immediately upon delivery and was taken to NICU for a week… so I guess these incidents have left permanent scars in my brain. Seeing the fear in Agnes and the screams she let out brought it all back. It made me even more thankful for modern medicine the fact my children are still here.
36 years ago my mother wasn’t as lucky. She gave birth to twins and unfortunately my brother died. My mother was alone in a German hospital as my dad was in the army and stationed there. I wonder if she too cried for her mother? And I wonder if my brother who slipped away cried for ours as he crossed into the place of no return?
Love your review. I absolutely adored the film! Seeing it was such a powerful experience. I was lucky enough to watch it at TIFF with the actors and the brilliant Chloé Zhao present. Before the film started she had us go through a breathing exercise. She is truly a one of a kind director!
I loved this film so much. I can’t remember the last time I wept through a film like that. I wasn’t prepared for the accuracy of grief depicted. Her scream pierced through my heart and took me back to my best friends funeral. His mother made that same sound when they took his body away. And Agnes’ immediate confusion after that moment, where her eyes are searching and nothing is making sense, that is what it felt like when my husband died. And those moments are truly so visceral I can’t wrap my head around how anyone could act them with that kind of truth. Even having lived through grief so deeply, I don’t think I could translate it on screen like that. And little Hamnet?! How is he so good?! It’s still blowing my mind.
Thanks for sharing this piece. None of my friends are into this but this film has been clanging around my brain since I saw it.
Wow the silence the pain I felt everyone’s grief in that cinema tonight I cannot describe how I’m feeling right now I’m stunned moved and totally exhausted that scene with Hamnet , I’ve never seen that in a film before Jessie Buckley is incredible as are all the cast . My best friend lots both her parents last year I was close to them I grieved for them and her tonight and my father who died 20yrs ago suddenly. Wills mother ‘s monologue about her loss and how grief doesn’t fade . Less words and more facial expressions ensured this experience will stay with me forever
Great post Sis - I loved Hammet particularly the female visceral rawness it put on screen which is so rare. I too had that sense of all of us women giving birth - connected - very powerfully watching the movie; and during birth itself xxx
Saw it last night. I’ve never seen (or so accurately had a mirror held to my own experienc of childbirth and loss) the pain and devastation manifest into that most primal screen from our womb. She was excellent in the role and Paul Mescal was superb. They both gave more to the story and their character than I think I’ve ever seen before in a movie. I loved the book so much. Hamlet has always been one of my favorite stories. I felt utterly gutted and understood at the end. So so excellent.
I sobbed in the cinema and I sobbed at home for pretty much the whole evening. This film has left a mark on me for sure.
When I had my third baby only 16 weeks ago she didn’t immediately cry, and I remember panicking and asking if she was breathing. Only two years prior I had delivered my second baby and he too wasn’t breathing immediately upon delivery and was taken to NICU for a week… so I guess these incidents have left permanent scars in my brain. Seeing the fear in Agnes and the screams she let out brought it all back. It made me even more thankful for modern medicine the fact my children are still here.
36 years ago my mother wasn’t as lucky. She gave birth to twins and unfortunately my brother died. My mother was alone in a German hospital as my dad was in the army and stationed there. I wonder if she too cried for her mother? And I wonder if my brother who slipped away cried for ours as he crossed into the place of no return?
Love your review. I absolutely adored the film! Seeing it was such a powerful experience. I was lucky enough to watch it at TIFF with the actors and the brilliant Chloé Zhao present. Before the film started she had us go through a breathing exercise. She is truly a one of a kind director!