Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) brings Maggie O'Farrell's beloved historical novel to life, in this dramatization of the heartbreaking tragedy which inspired a masterpiece.

The film centres on the domestic life of budding playwright William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and his eccentric, forest-dwelling wife, Agnes (Jessie Buckley). While William seeks fame in London’s theatre scene, Agnes remains in Stratford, raising their three children and using her knowledge of herbal lore to heal the village. Everything changes when their 11-year-old young son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), falls ill with the plague, an event that devastates the family and ultimately inspires the creation of the Bard’s most famous play, Hamlet.

With its naturalistic, lyrical style, Hamnet focuses on the often-overlooked life of Agnes, rather than her more famous husband, with Buckley garnering significant Oscar buzz for her revelatory performance. Deftly capturing the agony of parenthood and the transformative power of art, the film has been nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress. Bring tissues!