If you’re a fan of the world of Shakespeare, last year’s eight-time Oscar-nominated “Hamnet” is a must-watch. Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel of the same name (O’Farrell also co-wrote this screenplay), esteemed filmmaker Chloé Zhao brings this sorrowful tale to the screen, and the result is a deeply stirring piece of cinema that is both beautiful and tragic. I highly recommend having a box of tissues nearby.

Set in England during the 16th century, we’re given an intimate glimpse into the lives of Agnes Hathaway (Jessie Buckley) and her husband William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), as they navigate the devastation and heartbreak of losing Hamnet, one of their twin children, to an incurable plague. The narrative is heavily fictionalized, and it’s less concerned with recreating long-debated historical facts. Instead, the drama takes center stage, and the death of Hamnet is portrayed as the inspiration behind Shakespeare’s masterpiece, “Hamlet.” The film explores this familial tragedy with immense sensitivity and carries it out with a captivating vision.

Chloé Zhao, whose filmography contains films known for their quiet realism (like 2017’s “The Rider” and 2021’s Best Picture winner “Nomadland”), takes a more sweeping and theatrical approach with “Hamnet,” which definitely is fitting for a Shakespeare-themed film. The settings are lush, the costume design is meticulous, the musical score is ethereal, and the emotions are palpable throughout the film. Ultimately, this is a heartwrenching, yet hopeful examination of love, loss, grief, resilience and the act of pushing forward when things are the darkest.

While the nature of the story itself packs a poignant wallop, it’s the ovation-worthy performances that really take the film to prestigious heights. Jessie Buckley truly is the soul of this moving experience. Her performance is raw, vulnerable, and visceral, but she conveys such intense and complex feelings with so much skill that it all comes across as astonishingly natural. It’s an impressive thing to behold, and it’s no surprise that she took home the Oscar for this role. Paul Mescal, who had a major breakout in 2022’s “Aftersun,” continues to impress with his range and his commanding screen presence, giving a passionate yet commendably grounded performance.

In the end, “Hamnet” puts forth the powerful theme that, for some, creating art is the only way to process an insurmountable loss. And while certain wounds are impossible to ever heal, we can only do our best to stitch our hearts back together.

“Hamlet” is available to rent or buy on all major streaming platforms, and available to stream with your Peacock subscription.

Zach Murphy is an avid enthusiast of cinema, theater and storytelling. He lives with his wonderful wife Kelly in St. Paul. You can read more reviews at his blog,Fade to Zach.