Is Hamnet real? And does it even matter?

The Work

After watching Hamnet, I found myself disappointed to learn how little of the film was based on historical “fact.”

Yet the more I researched the film’s inspiration, the more I embraced a new interpretation of what it means to call a story “true.” It was this train of thought that led me to write this Substack post, which finds intertextuality between unlikely pairs of artistic work and delves into a deeper interrogation of what it means for art to be true, when truth is often victim to subjectivity.

The Skills

This essay demonstrates my ability to analyze film beyond surface-level plot, using research and intertextual thinking to explore theme, adaptation, and emotional truth.

Through critical writing, I synthesize historical context, mythology, and contemporary film to evaluate creative choices and articulate why stories resonate—even when they depart from fact. The work reflects strong narrative judgment, audience awareness, and my authentic voice grounded in curiosity and taste.