Hamnet Wins Golden Globe as Chloé Zhao’s Shakespeare Family Drama Surges in Awards Season

Overview

• Directed by Chloé Zhao and co-written with novelist Maggie O’Farrell, the film adapts O’Farrell’s book Hamnet.
• Set in late 16th-century England, the story centers on Agnes, William Shakespeare, and a family tragedy that reshapes their lives.
• Reviewers highlight the theme that art gives form to loss, using theatrical motifs to channel grief into meaning.
• Jessie Buckley’s performance draws widespread acclaim, with praise also for Paul Mescal and cinematographer Lukasz Zal.
• Produced by Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes, the Golden Globe victory elevates the film’s standing for the rest of awards season.