Classic Movies Live Season 6, Episode 29 – Hamnet
December 17, 2025
This week on Classic Movies Live, our hosts talk about Shakespeare!
Specifically, William Shakespeare, and even more specifically, the rendition of William Shakespeare played by Paul Mescal in Chloe Zhao’s most recent film Hamnet.
Hamnet is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell, recounting the story of a tragedy in the life of The Bard that preceded the writing of his play Hamlet. Focusing primarily on his wife, Agnes (Jessie Buckley), and her life in Stratford-upon-Avon raising their children, Hamnet is a story about absent fathers, overprotective mothers, and the grief that sets in when everything you do just isn’t enough to stop the worst from happening.
Hamnet marks a major career milestone for Zhao. Coming off of Marvels The Eternals, it’s significantly lower budget, but more traditionally fictional than her previous film Nomadland. It’s her first time working with Mescal and Buckley. And certainly not least of all, it’s her second time winning TIFF’s People’s Choice Award!
Will it also be her second film to go big at the Oscars? Tune in as our hosts talk about one of their most hotly anticipated films of the year… Live!
