Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao is set to release a unique photo book titled 'Even as a Shadow, Even as a Dream' in conjunction with her upcoming film 'Hamnet.' The artistic collaboration features Zhao working alongside star actress Jessie Buckley and photographer Agata Grzybowska to create a dreamlike companion piece to the highly anticipated historical drama.
The photo book represents a groundbreaking artistic experiment that emerged from the creative process behind Zhao's latest cinematic work. Created during the making of 'Hamnet,' the book is described as the result of shared artistic rituals between the three collaborators, combining Zhao's distinctive cinematic storytelling approach with Buckley's mesmerizing writings and Grzybowska's haunting photography. The publication is rooted in what Zhao calls 'expansive dream-work' that fundamentally shaped her creative process for the film.
'Hamnet' is based on Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed novel and tells the tragic story of William Shakespeare's son. The historical drama focuses on the profound grief experienced by Shakespeare and his wife Agnes following the death of their young son, Hamnet. The narrative is primarily told from Agnes's perspective, portrayed by Jessie Buckley, offering an intimate examination of how this devastating loss tears apart their marriage and transforms their family dynamic.
Rather than serving as a traditional behind-the-scenes documentary of the filmmaking process, 'Even as a Shadow, Even as a Dream' functions as what the creators describe as 'a quiet companion to the film.' The book exists in the liminal space between various states of being – waking and dreaming, reality and illusion, life and death – creating a powerful reimagining that parallels the movie's themes and emotional depth.
The film 'Hamnet' made its world premiere at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival on August 29, 2025, marking a significant moment for Zhao's return to period drama. Following its festival debut, the movie is scheduled to begin a limited theatrical release in the United States on November 27, 2025. The nationwide rollout will follow two weeks later, with the film opening in theaters across the country on December 12, 2025.
The accompanying photo book 'Even as a Shadow, Even as a Dream' will launch this fall, published by MACK, a prestigious publishing house known for high-quality art and photography books. The collaboration between Zhao, Buckley, and Grzybowska represents an innovative approach to multimedia storytelling, where the boundaries between cinema, literature, and photography blur to create a comprehensive artistic experience that extends beyond traditional filmmaking.
