I have seen many interpretations of hamlet – Various actors embody Shakespeare's iconic story both on stage and in film. But Grand Theft Hamlet offers something I've never seen before, a staging of the game set in the world of GTA Online. However, the upcoming film isn't just a non-stop recreation of the game within the game; It's actually a documentary about the staging and organization of the project, which required a lot of work.
Co-directed by UK-based couple Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane, the former a documentary filmmaker and the latter an actor, Grand Theft Hamlet came about due to the pandemic. With the world in various states of lockdown and quarantine and Crane out of work as an actor due to the situation, the two turned to video games as a venue to stage a play and made this documentary about the process.
The result looks alternately hilarious and deadly serious, as the trailer makes very clear. The bizarre project is continually interrupted by other players, and yet it's heartwarming how many other players have decided to actually help make it happen, despite the inherent difficulties the setting presents. This is the kind of weird art project I like to see.
Grand Theft Hamlet is in theaters on January 17th and will be Streaming on Mubi at a later time.
