‘Grand Theft Hamlet’ movie review: a surprisingly moving and hilarious documentary about creative resilience
Before making Past Lives, Celine Song staged a performance of Chekhov’s The Seagull in Sims 4. It’s the type of idea that seems almost impossible to execute, yet for some bizarre reason, it works. During the pandemic, artists were forced to work in new ways and invent creative infrastructures after theatres and cinemas were closed, adapting to a world that didn’t see the value of their work (despite the fact that entertainment was the only thing keeping people occupied during their time indoors).
The British government made announcements encouraging artists to ‘simply retrain and find other work’, and dystopian advertisements were shared of ballerinas who proudly announced that they were now accountants. It was through this global chaos that an idea was born, going boldly where no player of Grand Theft Auto has ever gone before.
Grand Theft Hamlet follows Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen, two out-of-work actors who decide to stage a production of Hamlet within Grand Theft Auto 5. The film is shot entirely inside the virtual world of Los Santos, with both men only ever appearing as their online avatars as they scuttle around the violent landscape and hide from rogue players who try to shoot them down for no reason. After commiserating about their bleak creative prospects while reconvening for another game during the lockdown, the duo stumble upon an abandoned amphitheatre, realising that while they can’t perform in the outside world, perhaps they could do so from the comfort of their home.
What follows is a hilarious, earnest and surprisingly moving tale about resilience, the creative spirit and the power of performance as Sam and Mark strategise about the best way to pull off such an outlandish goal. It’s both endearing and incredibly funny to watch the recruitment process as they search for their lead cast, meeting with other players inside the game who listen to their plan for a few seconds before randomly beating them to a pulp. Some auditions exceed their expectations, while others leave them speechless for other reasons, with one player turning up with his bare bum exposed as he recites a passage from the Quran (eventually tagging along on their journey and becoming an accidental stage manager).
But miraculously, even though you’d imagine that the crossover between GTA players and Shakespeare fans is very small, they manage to pull together a cast of rag-tag artists who are all desperate to create and collaborate with other artists, with nothing better to do but devote their time to such a crazy quest.
As the production goes on, the pair become attached to the project in a way they didn’t expect, existing as a creative anchor and beacon of hope at a time when they don’t have anything else. Constant hurdles are thrown their way, with the actor playing the lead role of Hamlet leaving the production after being offered a job in the real world, also struggling to rehearse when other players shoot them down mid-scene. But despite this, they persevere, with Crane taking on the role of Hamlet himself after such a sudden and unexpected obstacle.
The words of Shakespeare take on a new meaning within the stark and hopeless world of Los Santos and the global context of a world plagued by Covid-19. “To be or not to be, that is the question” becomes a haunting motif that touches on the simultaneous hope and cynicism of such an impossible-seeming production and the uncertain future of their careers as artists.
However, the final result is beautifully poignant, innovative, and tender. This wonderful group of performers pulls something off that could only exist within the endless freedom of a virtual world. Sam and Mark choose to stage it in genuinely breathtaking locations, with iconic scenes from the play taking place on top of blimps, rocky ocean cliffs, and secret caves.
It will leave you both with your heart in your mouth and in fits of laughter, shining a light on the endless possibilities of creativity, the astounding resilience of the artists who continue to brighten a dark world, and the sublime magic of community found in the unlikeliest of places.
