Pinny Grylls & Sam Crane
Grand Theft Hamlet
Free screening followed by Q&A with Pinny Grylls & Same Crane / Moderation: Friedrich Kirschner
- Film
German subtitles /
English /
It's January 2021, the UK has entered its third COVID lockdown, and theatres remain shuttered. Isolated and uncertain about their futures, actors Sam and Mark find solace in the digital escape of Grand Theft Auto Online, where they revel in chaotic car chases and explosive battles. But in the midst of this violence, they find an unexpected idea: why not bring one of the greatest plays ever written into this virtual landscape? They set out to stage Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” within the violent, unpredictable world of “Grand Theft Auto Online”.
The film is shot entirely inside Grand Theft Auto, using the game’s cinematic capabilities to blend theatre with interactive storytelling. With Los Santos' vivid, hyper-detailed cityscapes as the backdrop, Sam and Mark's avatars rehearse Hamlet – a play about revenge and madness – in a world where death and destruction are the norm. But just as theatre was unruly in Shakespeare’s day, the actors must face both the challenges of staging a serious production in a chaotic game and the larger question: can ancient stories find meaning in today’s digital age?
Directors Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane capture moments of profound pathos, humour, and reflection as they explore what’s possible when cultural history meets virtual reality. This groundbreaking documentary questions the boundaries between old and new, virtual and real, art and escapism. Grand Theft Hamlet premiered at SXSW 2024, where it won the Documentary Feature Jury Award, and has since been featured at prestigious festivals including CPH: DOX, Hot Docs, Visions du Réel, and the London Film Festival.
With this event, the streaming service MUBI is celebrating the premiere of ‘Grand Theft Hamlet’ on the online platform in cooperation with HAU. Further information and trailerat mubi.com.
Dates
Past
Notes:
Free of charge, ticket required
Credits
An event by MUBI Germany in cooperation with HAU Hebbel am Ufer.
Location
HAU2
Hallesches Ufer 34, 10963 BerlinThere are two marked parking spots in front of the building. Barrier-free restroom facilities are available. Four relaxed seats are available in the first row of HAU2.
