Retelling of bard’s family tragedy

ELIZABETHAN playwright William Shakespeare wrote The Tragedy of Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark, at the end of the 16th century.

Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway, had lost their son Hamnet, their daughter Judith’s twin, at the age of 11, four years previously.

Hamnet (12A), out now at the Regal Picturehouse in Boroma Way, Henley, is a reimagining of the possible connections between the origins of the play and the couple’s tragic loss.

The film was inspired by Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, which delved into linguistic and historical evidence to bring the story of the family’s grief and love to the page. O’Farrell co-wrote the screenplay with director Chloé Zhao.

Co-produced by Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Liza Marshall and Steven Spielberg, Paul Mescal plays Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley plays Anne (known as Agnes).

The story explores their early love affair and the birth of their daughter, Susanna, followed by the twins, as well as Agnes’s powers of clairvoyance.

Cinematography is by Lukasz Zal, with the music score by Max Richter, the film also stars Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Olivia Lynes and Noah and Jacobi Jupe among others and has a running time of two hours and six minutes.

The late musical comedian and national treasure Victoria Wood is remembered, in her own words and by others, in Becoming Victoria Wood (15), also out now.

Featuring talking heads Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Maxine Peake, Michael Ball, Joan Armatrading and Jasper Carrott, alongside readings by Jessica Barden, the documentary is directed by Catherine Abbott and has a running time of an hour and a half.

Continuing are Marty Supreme (15) and The Housemaid (15).