Jeremy Allen White Calls Festival Film 'One of Saddest Ever'
The Bear star was left emotionally devastated after watching a particular movie at Telluride Film Festival while promoting his own upcoming project.
Fans of The Bear understand that Jeremy Allen White can tap into remarkably deep emotional territory that's seldom witnessed on screen, particularly for a series that competes in comedy categories during awards season. While his performances might be masterful acting, White recently had an equally intense real-life emotional experience while promoting his newest project.
Film festival season offers a unique benefit for performers and filmmakers - the chance to experience each other's creations and preview the year's most significant releases. White attended the Telluride Film Festival to showcase his role in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, but he also witnessed what many consider a top Best Picture contender.
Festival Highlights and Competition
Telluride represents a costly festival typically accessible only to select critics and industry insiders with sponsored attendance, yet it provides an invaluable glimpse into which movies will compete for year-end honors. This year's lineup featured highly awaited projects from renowned directors including Richard Linklater's Blue Moon, Yorgos Lanthimos's Bugonia, Noah Baumbach's Jay Kelly, Kelly Reichardt's The Mastermind, and Joaquim Trier's Sentimental Value.
Within this impressive roster, Scott Cooper's Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere generated considerable excitement, positioning White in what promises to be a fiercely competitive Best Actor race.
The Breakout Performance
The festival's standout proved to be Hamnet, directed by Oscar-winning Nomadland filmmaker Chloe Zhao. This adaptation of the celebrated novel draws from William Shakespeare's life, featuring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley as the playwright and his wife Agnes as they navigate a devastating tragedy that strains their marriage to its breaking point.
Following the heartbreaking loss of their youngest child, Hamnet (portrayed by Jacobi Jupe), the couple faces their most difficult period of separation. This painful chapter later became Shakespeare's inspiration for writing Hamlet, widely regarded as among his greatest tragic works.
Emotional Impact
While any story involving a child's death naturally carries profound emotional weight, Zhao's sensitive portrayal of this tragedy left audiences gasping and weeping. White told BuzzFeed that Hamnet ranked as "one of the saddest films" he'd ever experienced. Given that the actor is a father himself, it's understandable why the movie affected him so deeply.
Despite award season dynamics potentially pitting Springsteen and Hamnet against each other, both films share surprising similarities. Each explores how artists transform personal anguish into their most powerful creative work. The former depicts how Springsteen, during a period of serious mental health struggles, drew from his childhood experiences to create his most distinctive album. Watching both movies consecutively would create a heartbreaking yet ultimately fulfilling cinematic experience.