General News
13 February, 2026
AT THE MOVIES: Story of love and loss coming to both cinemas
You can enjoy Hamnet at St Arnaud or Charlton cinemas over the weekend.
STRAP in for a night on an emotional rollercoaster if you go to the St Arnaud Community Cinema over the weekend.
Based on the 2020 historical fiction novel of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell, “Hamnet” is an account of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway’s son, who died of the plague at age eleven in 1596.
The novel heavily focuses on his parents’ grief and how they deal with this soul-crushing event.
While factual details of the early years of Shakespeare’s married life are scarce, “Hamnet” the book and movie expands the narrative, with Agnes – who is portrayed as a herbalist –also depicted as a smart and opinionated woman.
The tragedy is that her knowledge of medical potions cannot save her son.
The movie version, starring Jessie Buckley as Agnes “Anne” Hathaway, and Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare has received rave reviews for the two stars, with the movie picking up Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture (Drama) and Best Actress (Drama) for Buckley. It has also been nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Actress.
One reviewer wrote – “a rich exploration of grief spun out of the barest of facts” “Hamnet” reaches its emotional climax when Agnes travels to London to see the play“Hamlet” which her husband has written. As a catharsis for Shakespeare and a means of dealing with his son’s death, the play becomes a tribute through which the couple share their grief.”
The film will screen in St Arnaud on Friday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 2pm. The Rex Theatre Charlton will also play the film this Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm and Tuesday at 8pm.