Filmmakers Bong Joon Ho and Chloé Zhao recently engaged in a heartfelt discussion about Zhao’s new film, Hamnet, highlighting the emotional depth and creative processes that shaped the project. Their conversation took place via Zoom, a platform that first connected them during the 2021 Academy Awards when Bong presented Zhao with the Best Director Oscar for her acclaimed film Nomadland. This moment served as a symbolic passing of the torch, as Bong had made history the previous year by winning for Parasite.
Later that same year, the pair met in person while serving on the jury for the Venice Film Festival. There, they evaluated various films, including Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter, which starred a then-unknown Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. Fast forward to the present, both Buckley and Mescal are now considered frontrunners for Oscar nominations due to their powerful performances in Hamnet. The film, which explores the grief of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes following the death of their 11-year-old son, won the surprise award for Best Motion Picture (Drama) at the recent Golden Globes, enhancing Zhao’s momentum heading into the Oscars.
During their recent Zoom call, which they shared exclusively with The Hollywood Reporter, Bong expressed his admiration for Hamnet while probing Zhao about her creative decisions. One significant topic was the thematic role of a scar on Mescal’s face throughout the film. Zhao revealed that she had watched Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low as part of her preparation for directing Hamnet, illustrating the attention to detail that defines her work.
The conversation took a more emotional turn as Bong reflected on the film’s exploration of art as a comfort against life’s losses. He remarked, “Can it truly be equivalent? I think the film shows that it can, and that’s why it’s so desperately moving.” Zhao shared her innovative approach to directing, which included working with a Jungian somatic specialist to lead her 300-person cast and crew in meditation sessions before takes. This practice was designed to align everyone’s emotional state with that of the film’s lead, Buckley. “We played [composer] Max Richter’s music, and it was almost ceremonial,” Zhao noted. “It’s inviting everyone and giving permission to be as profound as they want to be.”
At the end of their discussion, Bong expressed deep gratitude for Zhao’s work. He conveyed that the film had a healing effect on him during a challenging period in his own creative journey. “I felt healed watching this film. I felt like it’s time for me to make something again,” he said. This heartfelt admission moved Zhao, who responded, “Thank you for saying that. That makes me want to make something, too.”
The exchange between these two acclaimed directors highlights not only their mutual respect but also the profound impact art can have on individuals. Their conversation serves as a testament to the power of storytelling in navigating personal and collective grief, making Hamnet not just a film but a shared emotional experience.
