Hamnet

I'm currently re-reading the book and seem to have missed a lot the first time round! It reads as if it was planned to eventually morph into a film script. The use of present tense narrative creates an almost visual impact. I might not be able to see it on screen before it arrives on my TV in a couple of months - I believe - but look forward to seeing how an interesting - but sometimes 'skippable' - narrative becomes visual.

Doodledog

Caleo

Is there supposed to be a connection between Shakespeare's son and Hamlet Prince of Denmark?

At the start of the film there were captions saying that the names were interchangeable. I don't know how 'factual' that is, but obviously the setting is before the first dictionary and few could read or write their name, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

It doesn't matter, really - it's more that in the story of the book and the film, he was working through his feelings about his son, his family, his place in the world as he wrote. I think that is 100% believable, although it is impossible to know whether it is 'factually' true.

So would you say that the theme of the Hamnet story is the same theme as any other celebrity's biography with added sentimentsaity to sell the book and the film play?

Did any of you hear Shakespeare twice say - ok ?

NanKate

Did any of you hear Shakespeare twice say - ok ?

Perhaps he was saying "och aye" and that's what started off the fashion for ok!

Perhaps Allira I had taken my hearing aids out as the volume of the language was too high. However he wasn’t Scottish.

Perhaps other Gransnetters can check when they go to see the film.

However he wasn’t Scottish.
No, I realise that (I went to his house).

But he did write The Scottish play!

I agree that there were sound problems in that the background music frequently overpowered the dialogue, making it very hard to follow the conversations, which was frustrating. Not sure that I would bother watching it again, but maybe if it comes to TV and I can read the subtitles!

"All Is True" is altogether a superior film to "Hamnet", in my humble opinion

Finally got to see Hamnet yesterday with step daughter, we'd both read the book she probably loved it more than me, although I did enjoy it, possibly not my favourite by Maggie O'Farrell. Husband declined wanting to see it, having lost a son, just felt it wasn't something he could bear to watch which I understood, it was very emotional. I thought it was beautifully filmed, especially the forest scenes and Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal were both excellent in the leads. The little boy who played Hamnet was a lovely little actor. I'm not sure how those coming to the story cold not having read the book would find it. We both knew what to expect, it's a slow ponderous film, I don't mind a slow pace though if the content is worthwhile.

I was interested to find out where it was filmed, having visited the Stratford on Avon area umpteen times. Weobley, Herefordshire was one of the main places as a recreation of a small Stratford back in the 16th century.

Caleo

Doodledog

Caleo

Is there supposed to be a connection between Shakespeare's son and Hamlet Prince of Denmark?

At the start of the film there were captions saying that the names were interchangeable. I don't know how 'factual' that is, but obviously the setting is before the first dictionary and few could read or write their name, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

It doesn't matter, really - it's more that in the story of the book and the film, he was working through his feelings about his son, his family, his place in the world as he wrote. I think that is 100% believable, although it is impossible to know whether it is 'factually' true.

So would you say that the theme of the Hamnet story is the same theme as any other celebrity's biography with added sentimentsaity to sell the book and the film play?

No. I don't think Shakespeare is like any other celebrity - he had a unique understanding of how people work (usually referred to a'the human condition', and an amazing ability to put it into words. I don't see all celebrities as being like one another either, though, so I don't really understand your point.

I don't think it was a sentimental film - it was about a fractured marriage that came together when Anne (with whom we were encouraged to sympathise throughout) took enough interest in Will's career to go to the theatre*, and realised that he had understood and cared about their son. It was emotional - of course it was - you couldn't tell the story of a dead child that wasn't emotional, but I don't think it was sentimental.

*Of course I am aware that going from Stratford to London in those days was not as easy as it is now, so that's not necessarily being critical of her apparent lack of interest.

Re how factual Hamnet is, I learned in school in the 1960s ( English grammar school) that Shakespeare lost a child to fever and that that event affected him deeply. We were also taught that Hamlet the play was an allegory of real events in Shakespeare's life.
So, while I've never researched this for factual accuracy, it seems at least some of the story of the book/film has been spoken about for 60 years.

Wanted to love it, but it left me completly cold, even though the little boy was a cracking actor (did you know that he and his real life brother, who plays Hamlet in the play at the end, are the sons of the actress who played Eilene's sister in Corrie?!)
I brought extra tissues along as I'd hoped for a good old weep, but it's no "The Green Mile" or "E,T" in my view-the only time I felt sad was when they were burying the dead bird!!

I enjoyed the book but I think I’ll wait until I can watch the film at home. I’ll be hopeless at keeping a lid on my emotions in the cinema.

Beans12

Wanted to love it, but it left me completly cold, even though the little boy was a cracking actor (did you know that he and his real life brother, who plays Hamlet in the play at the end, are the sons of the actress who played Eilene's sister in Corrie?!)
I brought extra tissues along as I'd hoped for a good old weep, but it's no "The Green Mile" or "E,T" in my view-the only time I felt sad was when they were burying the dead bird!!

I struggled to really like it and certainly wasn’t tearful. I’ve read the book and did enjoy it, but not the film.
I taught GCSE Hamlet for about 15 years and found myself mouthing along with the play scenes! I must be all Hamletted out!

I heard Shakespeare saying OK, I found it odd, also when he was in London it looked as though he was wearing a pair of jeans in one shot, I'm sure I spotted a zip! I thought the cinematography was wonderful, didn't find the film as great as some of the reviews said.

I saw it this evening and loved it. Fabulous photography, great acting and whilst I can see it might not be to everyone's taste, it was to mine. I enjoyed the book so I knew the story which to some extent took some of the emotion away, as I knew what was coming but I did not in the least find it slow. In fact, the time flew by. I'm off to see "Marty Supreme" on Saturday which will be a completely different experience and I'm looking forward to it.
fwiw, since I got my hearing aids I am finding the sound quality at the cinema is much improved and I heard every word this evening. I don't think it's a coincidence!

Is it terribly sad?

Loved the book, loved the film. I wish films would not make me cry at the end as you them have to leave looking a mes,

Sad because of the story at it's core, the death of a child, but emotionally satisfying as there is a resolution at the end. I found the ending of the film very powerful.

foxie48

Sad because of the story at it's core, the death of a child, but emotionally satisfying as there is a resolution at the end. I found the ending of the film very powerful.

Not for me, right now. Thanks.

foxie48

Sad because of the story at it's core, the death of a child, but emotionally satisfying as there is a resolution at the end. I found the ending of the film very powerful.

I agree with all of this. It is not 'about' the death of Hamnet, so much as how differently people grieve, and how we understand one another, as well as about the power of language to make sense of the world in different ways.

The final scene was incredibly powerful.

NanKate

Did any of you hear Shakespeare twice say - ok ?

Surely not?? 😱
Haven’t seen it and that has put me off going even more - TBH I was put off anyway by a pp saying she’d cried buckets.

I've heard about the 'ok' slip approximately a million times since I saw it, but can honestly say I was so caught up in the film that I didn't notice it at all at the time. Sadly when I see it again (which I will definitely do when it gets to the small screen) I will be looking out for it. Does it matter? It wasn't virtual reality - it was fiction.

My 16 year old grandson had seen it twice and told me to try to get to the cinema, with tissues! We went together on Sunday and I loved it. I am a Shakespeare fan anyway, his writing sends shivers down my spine. I can see why the film has received Oscar nominations. The Globe Theatre scene I found very moving. Not a film for everyone by any means but I enjoyed it.

I've just seen on the news that it is up for 11 awards!

We’re going to see the film on Sunday. I would normally prefer to read the book first, but haven’t got time. Only just discovered Maggie O’Farrell, so am looking forward to this.