Saagar Kote
Based on the eponymous novel by Maggie O’Farrell, ‘Hamnet’ is a fictional retelling of poignant moments in the lives of playwright William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), his wife Agnes (Jessie Buckley), and their son Hamnet (Jocobi Jupe). The narrative, set in the 15th and 16th centuries in England, traces the beginnings of the romance between William and Agnes, leading to their wedding, the birth of their children, and the special relationship between William and Hamnet. As the father and son share creative moments, a darker aspect of fate lurks in the background, threatening to break their bond.
While his creativity reaches new heights, the playwright finds it difficult to separate his personal experiences from influencing his stage characters. The British historical drama film ultimately chronicles a great tragedy in the life of William, which ultimately led him to write ‘Hamlet.’ Directed by Chloé Zhao, the narrative is a haunting tale of loss, love, and family, accompanied by unique visuals. These films, similar to ‘Hamnet,’ paint vivid pictures of human emotions, infusing history with social themes.
12. Cold Mountain (2003)
‘Cold Mountain,’ directed by Anthony Minghella, is the story of W.P. Inman (Jude Law), a wounded Confederate soldier during the Civil War. Facing dangerous odds, he undertakes a journey home to Cold Mountain, North Carolina, to see his lover Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman), who learns to manage her father’s farmland with the help of the resourceful drifter, Ruby Thewes (Renée Zellweger). The epic period war drama film, based on Charles Frazier’s eponymous novel, depicts Inman’s risky adventures, the various individuals he meets on his way home, and the struggles of distance in a romantic relationship. The themes of loss, meaning, loyalty, and the complex portrayal of love connect the film to ‘Hamnet’ and its characters.
11. The Remains of the Day (1993)
In ‘The Remains of the Day,’ James Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) is the head butler of Darlington Hall in 1930s England. He is challenged by the presence of the new housekeeper, Miss Sarah “Sally” Kenton (Emma Thompson). Despite his commitment to work and rules, he develops feelings for the housekeeper, which complicates his life in unexpected ways. The pro-Nazi political leanings of the house owner Lord Darlington (James Fox), further complicate the butler’s life. Directed by James Ivory and based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel of the same name, the British drama film is a vivid reflection of life. On the lines of ‘Hamnet,’ it utilizes historical settings to delve deeper into human emotions, while also depicting complex relationships between the main characters.
10. The Painted Veil (2006)
Helmed by John Curran, ‘The Painted Veil,’ based on William Somerset Maugham’s eponymous novel, follows the experiences of bacteriologist Walter Fane (Edward Norton). His romantic feelings for Kitty Garstin (Naomi Watts) ultimately lead to their marriage and their relocation to Shanghai. However, Kitty’s romantic entanglement with Charles Townsend (Liev Schreiber). In a quest for revenge after discovering his wife’s infidelity, the husband accepts a position in a remote village in China to handle a health epidemic and forces her to accompany him. As the couple faces increasingly complex challenges, their hardships may have a greater meaning. Marital bond, deep emotional stakes, and vivid portrayals of history are at the heart of the period drama film, just like ‘Hamnet.’
9. Lion (2016)
‘Lion’ is the haunting story of Saroo Brierley (Dev Patel), who goes on a difficult journey across the ocean, from Australia to India, to find his family. The film traces Saroo’s difficult, poverty-stricken childhood in India, which ends in him being adopted by an Australian couple, Sue (Nicole Kidman) and John Brierley (David Wenham). Years later, as an adult, he attempts to trace his estranged family members, while also in a romantic relationship with Lucy (Rooney Mara). Based on the book ‘A Long Way Home’ by the real-life Saroo Brierley, the Australian biographical drama film directed by Garth Davis is a layered narrative on familial ties. It resembles ‘Hamnet’ as it portrays the intricacies of loss, the search for meaning, the idea of family, and the parent-child relationship.
8. The Danish Girl (2015)
Based on David Ebershoff’s eponymous novel, ‘The Danish Girl’ is a British biographical romantic drama film that follows the lives of Lili Elbe (Eddie Redmayne) and Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander), who are both artists. Lili (born Einar Wegener) faces challenges with her gender identity after marrying Gerda. The initial efforts to ignore this only strengthen Lili’s resolve, which leads to a complex relationship between the couple. Set in 1920s Denmark and directed by Tom Hooper, the narrative, due to its portrayal of familial bond, moral questions, societal issues, and a unique visual tone, is connected to the world of ‘Hamnet’ and its characters.
7. The Lost Daughter (2021)
In ‘The Lost Daughter,’ a psychological drama film, Leda Caruso (Olivia Colman), an English teacher and divorcee, anticipates loneliness when her two daughters move to Canada. On holiday in Greece, she meets young mother Nina (Dakota Johnson) and her child, Elena (Athena Martin). A small event triggers overwhelming memories of Leda’s difficult choices as a mother and their consequences. What begins as a happy trip to a beautiful place is overtaken by memories of a troubling past. The parent-child relationship, like ‘Hamnet,’ is at the heart of this Maggie Gyllenhaal directorial based on Elena Ferrante’s eponymous novel. This establishes a spiritual connection between the two films, which also comment on the idea of liberation.
6. Never Look Away (2018)
‘Never Look Away’ or ‘Werk ohne Autor’is the story of Kurt Barnert (Tom Schilling). Haunted by a traumatic childhood shaped by his life under the Nazi and East German regimes, he flees to West Germany and learns painting at an art school in Dresden. He finds a potential soulmate in the student Ellie Seeband (Paula Beer), and utilizes the experiences of his personal challenges to create sensitive art that may help him find meaning and also honor the victims of the Nazi regime. Helmed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, the German epic coming-of-age romantic drama film reflects the elements of separation, tragedy, and familial bonds in ways similar to ‘Hamnet,’ despite being set in a different historical period.
5. The Light Between Oceans (2016)
‘The Light Between Oceans’ follows World War I soldier Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender), who finds work as a lighthouse keeper on a secluded Australian island. He soon falls in love and marries Isabel Graysmark (Alicia Vikander), and the couple enjoys a quiet, peaceful life until a boat with an abandoned baby and a dead father washes up on the shore. Having endured two miscarriages, Isabel convinces Tom to adopt the baby, whom they name Lucy (Caren Pistorius). Years later, their happiness is challenged when Lucy’s biological mother reappears, searching for her daughter. Based on M.L. Stedman’s novel of the same name, the romantic drama film, directed by Derek Cianfrance, is a retelling of a family’s experiences in an important period of history, on the lines of’ Hamnet.’ Both stories decipher the complexities of the parent-child relationship and the act of letting go.
4. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Directed by Céline Sciamma, ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ or ‘Portrait de la jeune fille en feu’ is the tale of Marianne (Noémie Merlant). Her skills as a painter take her to a secluded island in Brittany, France, where she is tasked with drawing the portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), a wealthy woman on the verge of marriage to a nobleman. However, the two women develop intense romantic feelings for each other, leading to emotional and physical intimacy. This discreet relationship presents challenges as the couple navigates social stigma and expectations, as well as their own insecurities. The French historical romantic drama film explores the complexities of loss, separation, identity, and grief in ways similar to ‘Hamnet,’ despite the differences in plot elements.
3. Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)
Based on Thomas Hardy’s eponymous novel, ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ centers on the fiercely independent Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), who manages a farm. She is courted by a farmer named Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), Frank Troy (Tom Sturridge), and William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), all of whom come from different walks of life in 1870s Victorian England. Faced with different choices and the passions of her own soul, the protagonist must deal with the ups and downs of her life, while also making a difficult romantic decision. Directed by Thomas Vinterberg, the British romantic drama film, akin to ‘Hamnet,’ is a vivid portrayal of British life in the past, aided by the complex emotions of the main female character and the exploration of love.
2. Atonement (2007)
‘Atonement’ is the story of a teenage girl and aspiring writer named Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan). She lives with her sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and other family members in a huge country estate. When she catches her sister engaged in an intimate act with the housekeeper’s son Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), she falsely reports it to the cops as rape. This lie leads to chaos and challenges in the lives of the sisters and the housekeeper’s son, who then leaves to fight in the Second World War. Directed by Joe Wright and based on the novel of the same name by Ian McEwan, the British romantic war tragedy film is a haunting story of love. The elements of loss, intricate familial bonds, and the complexities of a young writer’s emotions in the movie connect it to ‘Hamnet’ and the world in which it is set.
1. Bright Star (2009)
In ‘Bright Star,’ struggling poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) moves in with his friend and fellow poet Charles Brown (Paul Schneider) at his house in Hampstead Village, London, in the 1810s. John develops romantic feelings for a neighbor named Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish), despite initially despising her. With Charles dedicating himself to keeping the two apart, they must navigate various challenges, even as John tries to find his voice as a poet. The biographical romantic drama film, directed by Jane Campion, follows the lovers as they go through difficult conversations and choices.
On the lines of ‘Hamnet,’ the narrative has a basis in reality, while being a dramatic and fictional retelling of defining moments in the life of a famous author. Despite being set in different time periods in history, the stories are deeply connected due to their portrayal of familial bonds, love, loss, and artistic inspiration.
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