Clubhouse Conversations — Hamnet

In-depth coverage of cinematographer Łukasz Żal, PSC's work on Hamnet will be featured in American Cinematographer's January 2026 issue. Learn more here about how to subscribe to the industry's leading journal of motion-picture production techniques.

In this episode, cinematographer Łukasz Żal, PSC is joined by interviewer Nancy Schreiber, ASC to discuss his work on Hamnet — an intimate period drama from director Chloé Zhao that explores the relationship between Agnes Hathaway and William Shakespeare, and how it was transformed by the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet.

Hamnet observes the strained marriage between Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and William (Paul Mescal) in the wake of Hamnet's (Jacobi Jupe) tragic passing, as well as William's efforts to reframe their devastating loss in his classic play, Hamlet. For Żal, the film follows his last outing as director of photography, The Zone of Interest, which earned the Academy Award for Best International Feature in 2024.

Conversation Highlights

Żal's conversation with Schreiber explores a range of strategies, as well as the creative and practical challenges he encountered, including:

• Developing a visual language with Zhao that conveys the cycles of life and death
• Contrasting Agnes' luminous, natural world with that of William's which is largely confined to interior spaces
• Shooting predominantly in natural light, with minimal augmentation
• How his camera and lens choices helped lend the film's look a sense of soft realism

• His approach to some of the film's most pivotal moments, such as the scene depicting Hamnet's death and scenes featuring candlelit interiors

Łukasz Żal, PSC is a cinematographer whose credits include such acclaimed features as Cold War, Ida and I'm Thinking of Ending Things.

Nancy Schreiber, ASC is an award-winning cinematographer whose credits include the features Your Friends & Neighbors (1998), November (2004) and Mapplethorpe (2018), and TV series P-Valley, The Comeback and Better Things.

You’ll find all episodes in our ASC Clubhouse Conversations discussion series here.

Images courtesy of Focus Features.