Terrence Malick Raves ‘Hamnet’: “What A Magnificent Piece of Work”

It’s no secret that Chloé Zhao, much like many filmmakers of her generation—Barry Jenkins, David Lowery, Lynne Ramsay, Jeff Nichols—has been immensely influenced by Terrence Malick.

This influence is most evident in Zhao’s attention to natural light, her reverence for landscape, her loose, impressionistic narratives, and her search for the sacred within everyday life. You can it throughout ber filmography, especially “The Rider” and “Nomadland.”

So, is it any surprise that Malick was truly taken by Zhao’s Oscar-nominated “Hamnet”? Of course not.

Zhao’s partner at Book of Shadows productions, Nicolas Gonda, who happens to be Malick’s longtime producer, passed along consoderably high praise from the normally reclusive filmmaker. Malick recently sent him an email reacting to the film, and told him that he had permission to share, which he has done for the first time (via THR):

Dear Nic, I watched Hamnet last night. My heart was in my throat the whole time. I felt shaken to the core. It was searing, wondrous. What a magnificent piece of work. Please tell Chloé and the whole filmmaking team what you all know so well: what a wonderful film you all have made, full of love, tenderness, humanity and compassion. Love, Terry.

Added Gonda, “As long as I’ve known him, I’ve rarely seen him speak up like that.”

It’s good to see signs of life from Malick, who seems to have been holed up in his editing room these last seven years, trying to complete “The Way of the Wind” — maybe this will be the year we finally get to see it?

“Hamnet” received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Zhao, and Best Actress for Jessie Buckley. We’ll see how it does come March 15, but one person who will certainly be pulling for it is the very filmmaker whose influence looms so large over the film itself.