Jeremy Allen White Moved to Tears by Heartbreaking Festival Favourite

Anyone familiar with Jeremy Allen White’s work in The Bear will know he’s no stranger to exploring the darker corners of human emotion, even within the confines of a series that’s often labelled a comedy at awards ceremonies. Yet, while his on-screen performances are lauded for their intensity, White recently found himself deeply affected by a film he watched off-duty, during a major industry event.

Film festival season is a rare chance for actors and filmmakers to immerse themselves in each other’s latest projects, often catching early glimpses of the year’s most talked-about releases. White attended the Telluride Film Festival to promote his own project, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, but also took the opportunity to see some of the festival’s other high-profile offerings. Telluride, known for its exclusivity and high ticket prices, is a gathering point for critics and insiders, providing a first look at potential awards contenders.

Festival Highlights and Fierce Competition

This year’s line-up boasted a host of eagerly awaited films from acclaimed directors. Audiences were treated to new works by Richard Linklater (Blue Moon), Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia), Noah Baumbach (Jay Kelly), Kelly Reichardt (The Mastermind), and Joaquim Trier (Sentimental Value), among others. Amidst this impressive roster, Scott Cooper’s Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere generated considerable buzz, positioning White as a strong contender in the ‘Best Actor’ category.

However, the film that truly captured attention was Hamnet, directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao. Adapted from the celebrated novel, the film draws inspiration from the life of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes. Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley take on the roles of the couple, navigating the aftermath of a devastating family tragedy.

Hamnet’s Profound Emotional Impact

The story centres on the loss of their youngest son, Hamnet, portrayed by Jacobi Jupe. This event marks a period of profound grief and separation for the couple, a time that would later influence Shakespeare’s writing of Hamlet, widely regarded as his most significant tragedy. Any narrative dealing with the death of a child is bound to be emotionally charged, but Zhao’s sensitive direction left audiences visibly moved, with many reportedly in tears.

White himself was among those deeply affected. As he shared with BuzzFeed,

Hamnet was “one of the saddest films” that he’d ever seen.

Given that White is a parent, it’s not difficult to see why the film struck such a chord with him.

Artistic Anguish and Creative Inspiration

Despite the competitive nature of awards season, there are striking parallels between Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and Hamnet. Both films delve into how artists transform personal pain into creative expression. The former explores how Springsteen, during a period of significant mental health struggles, drew upon his own childhood to produce a defining album. Watching these two films in succession would be a challenging, yet ultimately enriching, experience for any viewer.