There have been many talented writers throughout history, but few have had quite the same impact as William Shakespeare. Among his most celebrated and adapted works is Hamlet, about a prince mourning the loss of his father and seeking to avenge his murder. The latest cinematic realization comes from director Aneil Karia and star Riz Ahmed, whose previous collaboration was the Oscar-winning short film The Long Goodbye. The story moves to the present day, creating a fascinating and highly influential backdrop for a classic tale of treachery, misery, and devastation.
Hamlet (Ahmed) participates in a ritual process ahead of the burial of his late father and is startled to learn that his uncle Claudius (Art Malik) plans to marry his mother Gertrude (Sheeba Chaddha). He sees the ghost of his father, who tells him that Claudius was the one who killed him and that he should be avenged. Hamlet confides in Ophelia (Morfydd Clark) while her brother Laertes (Joe Alwyn) and their father Polonius (Timothy Spall) prepare for this joyous wedding, something that Hamlet does not intend to allow to proceed unchallenged.
Like in other films like Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus, the Shakespearean dialogue is preserved and it’s simply actors in today’s world uttering them. In addition to a newspaper headline which describes Hamlet’s father as a real estate CEO and the Fortinbras as a group living in homeless encampments, the expressions on Ahmed’s face tell so much more of the story. But there is also an incredible impact to hearing the universally-known “to be or not to be” speech shouted while Ahmed’s Hamlet is driving a car at full speed, seemingly intent on engineering his own death in a fiery collision. The wedding itself also gets a fresh twist thanks to its modern setting and Hamlet’s comical handling of a microphone to get the crowd’s attention.
Shakespeare devotees will surely have much to say about how this film deals with a beloved work, but for those much more casually invested in his writings and their frequent film adaptations, this should be a sufficiently interesting and involving watch. The cast is universally excellent, with Ahmed delivering a tortured performance that often turns frenzy into comedy. Clark is passionate and memorable, while Alwyn has found yet another fitting role that combines charisma with arrogance. Spall, Chaddha, and Malik all contribute seasoned turns as characters who wear their emotions much less on their sleeves and value decorum and procedure over what may be right and just.
Utilizing film to tell this story rather than theater necessitates certain changes to blocking, but there is plenty about it that still feels theatrical. The urban setting, however, does in some cases feel just as bare, with Hamlet often traveling through dimly-lit outdoor areas, passing graffiti that rejects his father’s company but is seen rather than heard, a remnant of protest and an indicator of swelling dissidence within this empire. Aside from several group scenes, including the wedding, most of the interactions between characters are quite intimate and make great use of close-ups. There are numerous moments where the way in which something happens in the background or on someone’s face radically changes the meaning and tone of a familiar line, and seeing it in this cinematic way proves enormously rewarding.
Featuring a South Asian family in this adaptation heavily influences the costumes and set designs, and, particularly when it comes to mourning and wedding customs, that’s a boon for the film since it heightens the drama as they’re already all dressed up for events, which are meant to mark lifecycle events but also serve as opportunities for those with nefarious intentions to mask their actions. Hamlet remains a rich and intelligent text, and this version gleans even more from the source material, avoiding too many opportunities to define what it means to have this story take place in the present and instead simply allowing its saga to play out in a setting that adds even more compelling context and weight.
Movie Rating: 8/10
