Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed by a movie's ending, a scene so powerful it leaves you breathless? That's exactly what "Hamnet" does, and the secrets behind its emotionally charged finale are fascinating. But here's where it gets controversial: Director Chloé Zhao and actor Paul Mescal actually disagreed on the interpretation of that final, pivotal moment.
In this deep dive, we'll uncover how Zhao, known for her poetic and visually stunning films, drew inspiration from ancient storytelling traditions to craft the movie's ending. She explains that the collective experience of shared emotions, particularly grief, is a fundamental human practice, tracing back to ancient Greek tragedies and indigenous shamanic rituals. Zhao emphasizes that these traditions offered a way to process intense feelings, a stark contrast to modern approaches that often prioritize individual coping mechanisms.
"Crying together goes back to the Greeks," Zhao explained. "In every indigenous tradition, you come around the fire, and then the shaman would channel a story." To tap into these deep wells of emotion, Zhao employed unique methods on set, including daily meditations and dream sessions with her actors, along with weekly dance rituals to release pent-up energy. She believed these practices allowed the cast to access raw, authentic feelings, mirroring the way ancient cultures dealt with trauma and loss. "Animals, dreams, visions," she said. "People have strong emotions... They sit around the fire, and they dance, and they release these emotions, and that turned into theater, these Greek tragedies."
The film culminates with Agnes (played by Jessie Buckley), devastated by the loss of her son Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe) and the absence of her husband William (Paul Mescal), attending the premiere of "Hamlet" at the Globe Theatre. The scene is incredibly poignant: Agnes stands at the edge of the stage, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, as she watches her husband, Will, portray the ghost of Hamlet's father. And this is the part most people miss: It's in this moment, across the stage, that William and Agnes finally see each other again, truly see each other, after a long period of estrangement.
Zhao beautifully articulates the significance of this reconnection: "We stop seeing each other in the world... Or even allow ourselves to be seen, because there’s so much shame and guilt. It’s sometimes scarier to be seen, to allow yourself to receive that sameness, than [to try] to see other people."
Now, here's where the disagreement between Zhao and Mescal comes in. While Zhao saw the ending as a moment of shattered pieces being tentatively repaired, Mescal interpreted it as a sign of a new beginning for Agnes and William's relationship. Speaking from the Soho House in Los Angeles, Mescal shared his perspective: "But the way Chloe was describing it, which is totally a true reading, is that there is something shattered and repaired in a certain instance in that look, and for me, I don’t know how I can see Agnes and not feel like it’s a new beginning. Maybe it’s the romantic in me... That was always to me what that moment is. It’s so moving."
Mescal further explains the depth of the moment, stating, "At that moment, he is connected to Agnes on the wedding day, saying, ‘Look at me, look at me.’ And Will turns around, and it mirrors that. I felt a feeling of heartbreak and relief: ‘Thank God, you get to see this. Thank God you understand why I had to go away.'"
Zhao described shooting the sequence as "four of the most difficult, but also life-changing days of my life," emphasizing the power of nonverbal communication. "There’s barely any dialogue. This language is quite universal for everyone, right? Sometimes our truth can only be felt in silence... All we’re asking is to see each other and be seen without judgment, unconditionally, and that was healing and also difficult to experience. Shakespeare worked hard his entire life to bring people together every day for a few hours: The illusion of separation dissolves."
In Zhao's interpretation, the ending also speaks to the themes within the play itself. She explained that Hamlet's struggle to let go of his father mirrors Agnes's inability to release her son, Hamnet. By reaching out to the actor playing Hamlet, Agnes symbolically gives her son the strength to move on, allowing herself to finally grieve and find peace. "She’s reaching out to him to say, ‘I give you strength to let you go.’ And all the audiences in that moment reach out to him so that this boy, in that moment of fear, can feel the oneness and the fact that separation is an illusion. And when you feel that oneness, then you suddenly feel peace. And the rest is silence. And then he lets go, and therefore allows her to let Hamnet go."
Ultimately, "Hamnet" is a profound exploration of grief, love, and the enduring power of human connection. It leaves us contemplating the complexities of relationships and the healing potential of shared experiences.
Now, what do you think? Did you interpret the ending as a moment of repair or a true new beginning? Do you agree with Zhao's perspective on the importance of collective grieving, or do you find Mescal's romantic interpretation more compelling? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
