Chloé Zhao Celebrates Fellow Filmmakers After Winning Best Drama for ‘Hamnet’ at the Golden Globes
Golden Globes Honors ‘Hamnet’ as Best Film – Drama
The Golden Globes concluded on Sunday night with a thrilling announcement: Focus Features’ film Hamnet won the award for Best Film – Drama.
Following the announcement, renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg praised Sam Mendes, one of the film’s producers, for introducing him to the Maggie O’Farrell novel that inspired the film. Upon reading the book, Spielberg felt a strong conviction about who should bring the story to life.
“I loved the book and thought there was only one filmmaker on the face of the planet that could tell this story, and that was Chloé Zhao,” he stated.
Hamnet marked its second win of the night when Jessie Buckley was awarded Best Female Actor in a Drama. Other nominees in the drama category included Sinners, Sentimental Value, It Was Just An Accident, and The Secret Agent.
In her acceptance speech, Zhao reflected on the losses experienced by cast and crew during production, emphasizing their ongoing remembrance. She shared poignant words from her Hamnet star, Paul Mescal, who conveyed a deeper understanding of vulnerability through the filmmaking process.
“He said that making Hamnet made him realize that the most important thing about making the film was learning to be vulnerable enough to allow ourselves to be seen for who we are, for who we ought to be,” Zhao recounted. “To give ourselves fully to the world, even the parts of ourselves we are ashamed of, that we are afraid of, that are imperfect, so that the people we speak to can fully accept themselves for who they are.”
Expressing her honor at being in a room filled with such talent, Zhao recognized fellow nominee Ryan Coogler of Sinners and emphasized the significance of their collective work in the industry.
“I see so many of you have become so strong and tender at the same time and shared so much of yourselves with the world,” she stated. “So salute your bravery and your dedication—let’s keep seeing each other and let each other be seen.”
