GTA Online x Shakespeare in ‘Grand Theft Hamlet’ Doc Official Trailer
by Alex Billington
December 19, 2024
Source: YouTube
“Look, my Lord, it comes!” To game or not to game, that is the question… Mubi has revealed the official trailer for the acclaimed doc film called Grand Theft Hamlet, co-directed by filmmakers Pinny Grylls & Sam Crane. This first premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival and stopped by many other fests including Hot Docs, CPH:DOX, Vancouver, Sitges, London, and many other international film festivals. Here’s the full intro: “Filmed entirely inside the video game Grand Theft Auto, this documentary portrays the hilarious and deeply moving story of two unemployed actors who attempt to stage a full production of Hamlet in one of the most violent video games in history. The result of the experiment has given shape to one of the most unique audiovisual projects of the decade.” Grand Theft Hamlet won the SXSW Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary – and has earned some rave reviews. Looks like a fun project about video games connecting us.
Official trailer (+ poster) for Pinny Grylls & Sam Crane’s doc Grand Theft Hamlet, direct from YouTube:
In the midst of the recent pandemic, two out-of-work actors, Sam & Mark, face a bleak future. Desperate for purpose, they stumble upon an idea: stage Shakespeare’s classic Hamlet within the ultra-violent world of Grand Theft Auto Online. Shot entirely in-game, Grand Theft Hamlet explores their attempt to merge classical theatre with a chaotic digital landscape. With stunning visuals and unexpected moments of reflection, this engaging documentary examines how ancient cultural narratives can still resonate in new, virtual spaces, raising questions about art, isolation, and digital world’s potential for storytelling. Grand Theft Hamlet is co-directed by filmmakers Pinny Grylls & Sam Crane, both making their feature debuts previously, after numerous shorts and the “Who Do You Think You Were?” series. Produced by Julia Ton and Rebecca Wolff. This initially premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival earlier this year. Mubi opens Grand Theft Hamlet in US theaters nationwide starting January 17th, 2025 coming up. Want to watch?
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