Imagine this: A film where the actors playing Hamlet and the inspiration for the character are real-life brothers. Intrigued? That's the magic of 'Hamnet,' a movie that delves into loss, art, and the profound connection between a father and his children. Let's dive into how this cinematic synchronicity came to be.
Based on Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed novel, 'Hamnet' poignantly portrays the Shakespeare family grappling with the heartbreaking death of their son, Hamnet, at the tender age of 11. The film is directed by the Oscar-winning Chloé Zhao, known for her sensitive and evocative storytelling.
Initially, Zhao cast 12-year-old Jacobi Jupe in the pivotal role of Hamnet. But here's where it gets interesting... After filming Jacobi's scenes, Zhao realized she hadn't yet cast anyone for the final 20-minute sequence, which would depict the first staging of 'Hamlet' at the Globe Theatre in 1599. Talk about a casting challenge!
That's when Zhao reached out to Katy Cavanagh, the mother of the Jupe brothers. She contacted Noah Jupe, who was filming 'The Carpenter's Son' in Greece. Noah, who was already calling his younger brother during the production, was immediately drawn to the project. He was flown to the U.K. set within a week.
"Originally I was meant to do a couple of days of rehearsal," Noah shared, "but Chloé moved the rehearsal closer to the shooting days. She wanted there to be less time to rehearse, so that everything we did felt more authentic."
Jacobi, having finished his role, was eager to watch his brother. His presence led to a touching alteration in the plot. Though unscripted, Jacobi's Hamnet briefly appears in the final sequence, marking the first time the Jupe brothers shared a stage. This moment was born from Zhao's appreciation for synchronicity and spirituality.
Jacobi also shared insights into Zhao's warm and spontaneous approach. To lighten the mood on set, Zhao introduced weekly 'dance takes' to express joy, often to pop songs like Rihanna's "We Found Love." Even after filming his death scene, Jacobi requested a dance take, choosing The Bee Gees' "Staying Alive" for its aptness.
But here's a fun twist: Zhao noticed that Noah didn't resemble Jacobi. The solution? A creative hair transformation. They experimented with wigs before settling on a yellowish paint to match Noah's hair to Jacobi's. Noah saw it as a nod to Shakespeare's efforts to recreate his son.
Perhaps the most emotionally charged moment in 'Hamnet' is when Noah's Hamlet connects with Jessie Buckley's sorrowful Agnes in the audience. Noah revealed that this scene's power stemmed from a dress rehearsal where Buckley was the only other person present. He performed the scene directly for her, creating a profound connection.
"When you feel connected to someone in the audience," Noah said, "it changes the way you speak the words. It makes each of them active participants, and I have to give Jessie all the credit for making that happen."
And to top it off, the film includes a clever meta Easter egg: the playbill for the first 'Hamlet' performance lists the actor playing the title role as 'Mr. Jupe.'
"What’s so symbolic about that is we’re both Mr. Jupe," Jacobi said, smiling at the idea of being referred to by a formal title at his age. "I really like that they put it in the film. It’s subtle and it slots everything into place. It just feels really right."
What do you think? Does this unique casting and the film's creative choices add to the emotional impact of 'Hamnet'? Share your thoughts in the comments!
