Jeremy Allen White on the Film That Broke Him at Telluride

Anyone who’s caught an episode of The Bear knows Jeremy Allen White isn’t shy about diving into some pretty heavy emotional territory, even if the show’s up for ‘Best Comedy’ at the big awards. But it turns out, he’s not just acting—he’s been through the wringer off-screen too, especially during the recent film festival circuit.

Film festivals are a bit of a treat for actors and filmmakers, giving them a chance to check out each other’s work and get a sneak peek at what’s likely to make waves later in the year. White rocked up to Telluride to promo his latest, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, but he also managed to catch a screening of one of the year’s most talked-about contenders for Best Picture.

Festival Buzz and Fierce Competition

Telluride isn’t exactly a cheap day out—it’s mostly for critics and industry types who can score a sponsor. Still, it’s the place to be if you want to see which films are going to be in the awards mix. This year’s line-up was packed with much-hyped releases from big-name directors: Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind, and Joaquim Trier’s Sentimental Value, just to name a few. In the middle of all this, Scott Cooper’s Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere was getting plenty of attention, putting White right in the thick of a tough Best Actor race.

But the real standout at the festival was Hamnet, directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao. Adapted from the acclaimed novel, the film draws on the life of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes. Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley take on the roles of the couple, who are forced to navigate a devastating loss that pushes their relationship to its limits.

Hamnet’s Emotional Punch

The story centres on the death of their youngest son, Hamnet, played by Jacobi Jupe. This tragedy marks the most difficult period in their marriage, a time of separation and grief that would later inspire Shakespeare’s writing of Hamlet—arguably his most famous tragedy. Any film that tackles the loss of a child is bound to hit hard, but Zhao’s sensitive direction left punters at the screening visibly shaken, with more than a few in tears.

White himself was among those deeply moved. As he told BuzzFeed,

Hamnet was “one of the saddest films” that he’d ever seen.

Given that he’s a dad, it’s not hard to see why the film struck such a chord with him.

Art Imitating Life

While the awards season might pit Springsteen and Hamnet against each other, the two films have more in common than you’d think. Both explore how artists draw on personal pain and heartbreak to create their most powerful work. In Springsteen, we see the musician channel his own tough childhood and mental health struggles into what would become a defining album. Watching both films back-to-back would be a tough ask emotionally, but probably worth it for anyone keen on seeing how real-life anguish can fuel creativity.