Can’t watch Hamnet

[Anonymous]

I read the book. It builds up but you know what will happen so it's not shocking. Just very very sad.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what good reviews you are referring to. I’ve seen lots and lots of commentary on how it was overdone, too sad, and not worth my time. Have no plans to see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that it got really good reviews and I really want to watch it but ever since I had kids I can’t watch movies where kids die. It’s so traumatizing and I cry so much I had to stop. Are most other parents like this? I told my DH what the movie was about and he said he couldn’t watch it either.

Some parents? Yes.

Most parents? No.

[Anonymous]

My husband asked me why I will watch things when I know they make me sad or read the news or keep involved and its because I guess I feel like by not doing it, I am dismissing their existence if that makes sense? I understand if you need to protect your peace but as long as you are not ostrich-ing which I think a lot of people do. Especially with current events.
Hamnet isnt current so if it puts you in a bad place then ignore but if it will just make you sad that kind of feels avoidant.

[Anonymous]

I will not watch as I have a boy similar age that looks similar. I also can't watch Adolescence, even though i read a ton of reviews and articles on it. And Pan's Labyrinth was horrific for me even before having kids, gah!

[Anonymous]

It just depends for me. I totally get where you are coming from and I often avoid any movie where kids get hurt or die because it's hard. But I've also heard that Hamlet is about motherhood and the power of maternal love and that's something I am interested in. After Jessie Buckley's acceptance speech at the Oscars I decided I'll steel myself and watch it. I'll probably cry but I'll be okay. It's just a movie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband asked me why I will watch things when I know they make me sad or read the news or keep involved and its because I guess I feel like by not doing it, I am dismissing their existence if that makes sense? I understand if you need to protect your peace but as long as you are not ostrich-ing which I think a lot of people do. Especially with current events.
Hamnet isnt current so if it puts you in a bad place then ignore but if it will just make you sad that kind of feels avoidant.

I think there is catharsis in watching films that will make you feel sadness and grief. Sometimes people need to get in touch with those feelings.

When a movie really makes you cry and feel something, it's usually not so much that the movie has manufactured those feelings, as that you had them inside of you, somewhere, and just hadn't let yourself express them. Negative feelings like sadness, grief, anger, disappointment, etc., are a normal part of life, but our modern world doesn't leave a lot of space for them. I think that's one reason people seek out entertainment that plucks at those strings, because it's a socially condoned arena for expressing strong negative feelings.

[Anonymous]

Yeah it was sad but it didn't hit me that hard, he died in the 1500s of the bubonic plague, a lot of people died then of plague.

[Anonymous]

I'm the same way OP. Ever since having kids, I can't handle anything like this. I find that I only have so much bandwidth for emotional distress, and between stress and sad events in my actual life and keeping up with the state of the world (necessary for my career and, I think, to be a good citizen), I don't find I have much left for fictional sadness. My kids are still little and I hope my tolerance for this type of book/movie/show increases again when they're older.

[Anonymous]

I can't watch a movie where dogs die. Even animals dying is too hard for me. People or kids dying doesn't affect me and I don't know why not since I adore kids.

[Anonymous]

I didn't cry nearly as much in Hamnet as people suggested I would, probably because you know the story going in, and it was beautifully, soulfully portrayed.

Now, "Song Sung Blue"? Sheesh, the hits just kept on coming. I sobbed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the same way OP. Ever since having kids, I can't handle anything like this. I find that I only have so much bandwidth for emotional distress, and between stress and sad events in my actual life and keeping up with the state of the world (necessary for my career and, I think, to be a good citizen), I don't find I have much left for fictional sadness. My kids are still little and I hope my tolerance for this type of book/movie/show increases again when they're older.

Same. I tried to read the book and while I love Maggie O'Farrell I couldn't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I basically don’t watch anything disturbing. I don’t get why people like true crime. I mostly watch romances, comedies, nature documentaries and once in awhile some other stuff.

I love true crime.

[Anonymous]

I cried a whole box of tissues while watching March of the Penguins, and I'm not a cryer.

[Anonymous]

Nope, no movies where kids or dogs die or are seriously hurt/traumatized.