Should I cry or not? That was the question Tuesday night when the premiere of the heartbreaking Oscar nominee “Hamnet” filled L.A.’s swanky Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with a cacophony of sniffles.
Based on the acclaimed 2020 novel of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet follows William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and his wife Agnes (Jesse Buckley) as they fall in love, start a family, and deal with the devastating loss that led William to write his acclaimed masterpiece, Hamlet.
Ahead of the film’s premiere, Steven Spielberg, the film’s producer, praised director Chloé Zhao’s singular vision, telling the audience, “A director is always looking for a story to tell, and sometimes the story tells you which director you want it to be.”
“Chloe Zhao is the director that Maggie O’Farrell’s book ‘Hamnet’ led her to, and there was no other choice in the world. They found their way to each other in books and Chloe. They were made for each other. Chloe’s superpower, empathy, made this match inevitable.”
Spielberg continued his speech by advocating for emotional films like Hamnet to get the recognition they deserve in theaters, adding, “Maggie’s heart and Chloe’s soul were the perfect combination to work together on adapting this book to film…Big movie screens like this one I’m standing in front of. Not just blockbuster, epic, escapist movies, but delicate, intimate portraits. The kind of screens we fight against the tide to keep them filled. There needs to be room for films like Chloe to be shown on screens like this, about marriage and family and the life-changing revelations that come from heartache and heartbreak. I’m so proud to be one of the producers who was able to see Chloe make this little miracle happen.”
Early Oscar predictions were for Buckley to win the gold medal for best actress, in addition to supporting actor Mescal and director Chao (who won an Academy Award for 2020’s Nomadland) being nominated for best picture.
Buckley, the Irish actress who shot to fame in the US with her roles in series such as “Chernobyl” and “Fargo,” stunned in a sophisticated black and white dress with a plunging neckline.
Co-star Joe Alwyn looked dapper on the carpet in a textured gray suit jacket with a black collar.
“Hamnet,” from Universal Pictures’ film specialty division Focus Features, is expected to do well in this year’s awards race, along with “Song Saint Bleu,” starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, and “Bugonia,” led by Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.
Despite the gloomy atmosphere of “Hamnet,” the cast was all smiles and toasted the project at the afterparty in the museum’s luxurious rooftop tea room.
In keeping with the film’s idyllic British setting, attendees were treated to some typical British dishes, including chicken pot pie and fish and chips.
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In attendance at the lavish affair were “Brat” hitmaker Charli XCX, “Superman” actress Isabella Merced, “Mad Men” alum Christina Hendricks, “Girls” star Zosia Mamet and “Cobra Kai” standout Peyton List.
“Hamnet” opens in limited release on Nov. 26 and expands to more screens on Dec. 5.
Please bring tissues!
