Ophelia (2018), directed by Claire McCarthy and based on Lisa Kleinโs novel, offers a feminist reimagining of Shakespeareโs Hamlet, told from the perspective of Ophelia, the young noblewoman often portrayed as fragile and tragic. In this retelling, she is a bold and intelligent heroine who reclaims her story.
Set in medieval Denmark, the film opens with Ophelia (played by Daisy Ridley), a spirited and unconventional young woman raised in Queen Gertrudeโs court. She soon catches the eye of Prince Hamlet (George MacKay), and the two fall in love in secret, navigating the rigid rules of courtly life. Meanwhile, political unrest brews: Claudius (Clive Owen), Hamletโs uncle, murders the king and marries Queen Gertrude (Naomi Watts), setting off a chain of deception and vengeance.
Unlike Shakespeareโs original, this adaptation gives Ophelia agency. She fakes madness to escape the growing danger at court and unravels the web of lies surrounding the royal family. Her relationship with Gertrude is more complex here, especially with Naomi Watts portraying both Gertrude and her witchy sister Mechtild, adding layers of mysticism and power struggle.
Visually rich and dramatically intense, Ophelia combines historical drama with romance and political intrigue. The film repositions Ophelia not as a victim of circumstance but as a woman determined to survive and shape her own destiny.
With poetic dialogue and striking cinematography, the story challenges the canonical male-driven tragedy and reframes it through a womanโs resilience and rebellion.
Ultimately, Ophelia is a bold, revisionist tale that offers a fresh perspective on a classic play, presenting its titular character as a survivor rather than a casualty of Hamletโs madness. Itโs a thoughtful commentary on love, power, and autonomy in a world designed to silence women.
