Grand Theft Hamlet

In January 2021, as the UK enters its third lockdown and theatres remain closed, actors Sam and Mark face a bleak future. Mark, living alone, becomes increasingly isolated, while Sam worries about supporting his family. To cope, they dive into the violent yet stunning virtual world of Grand Theft Auto Online. Amidst car thefts and gunfights, they discover moments of peace in meadows of wildflowers. Their idea to stage ‘Hamlet’ within the game is audacious, given the game's chaos and destruction, but they find parallels to the raucous nature of Shakespearean theatre.

This groundbreaking documentary, filmed entirely within Grand Theft Auto, explores the potential of virtual spaces as new platforms for storytelling. It questions how we can adapt ancient narratives to modern digital realms and whether they retain their meaning. With Los Santos’ intricate cityscapes and dynamic environments providing a cinematic backdrop, the film uses the in-game camera to create intimate close-ups and sweeping pans, blending pathos and lyricism with the game's inherent chaos and violence.

Details
Run time: 1h 29 mins
Director: Sam Crane, Pinny Grylls
Writer: Sam Crane, Pinny Grylls
Cast: Sam Crane, Mark Oosterveen, Pinny Grylls

Country: UK
Genre: Documentary
Language: English