Jay Rohr
Grand Theft Hamlet is something that could only come from the absurd. On the brick of an offhand jest, a cobblestone path is paved that connects several weary travelers. This is the tale of an upsetting era as much as it is the attempt to adapt Shakespeare in the unlikeliest scenario—within the realm of a normally ultra-violent video game. Yet, for all its facets, Grand Theft Hamlet is primarily what many documentaries aspire to: glimpses of people in raw, guileless displays. And though a cynic could easily say otherwise, for the most part the the film achieves that aim.
The story starts in the digital realm of Grand Theft Auto Online. This massive multiplayer online adventure comes courtesy of Rockstar Games. Inspired by one of their crown jewels, Grand Theft Auto V, the game takes players into the fictional city of Los Santos. This satirical take on Los Angeles offers an open world sandbox for gamers to act out an array of violent criminal conduct. As such, one evening, two friends playing the game stumbled onto the Vinewood Bowl. This amphitheater modeled after the Hollywood Bowl inspires the duo, both out of work actors bored due to lockdown, to ponder if they can put on a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet within the cyber reality of Grand Theft Auto Online.
It’s a charming idea that quickly runs into darkly comedic, absurd difficulties. Displays of emotion are limited and sometimes inadvertently hilarious but hardly the biggest obstacle. That’s because the dynamics of GTA Online are essentially survival of the most ruthless. Typical players tend to shoot first and never ask questions later. Consequently, every encounter, such as auditions and rehearsals, carries an absurdist tension as anyone approaching might come in blasting. On more than one occasion, a moving performance is interrupted by a hail of bullets from a passing aspiring crime lord.
The usual difficulties of staging a play, finding suitable locations as well as performers, are hard enough without an unpredictable barrage of gunfire. The cast is routinely killed by people who’d rather slaughter than take a second to sample the sublime. And as such an intriguing subtext develops tying the surreal realm of GTA to Shakespeare’s plays.
Within the digital playground are very clear examples of humanity’s potential for marvelous, daresay miraculous achievements, alongside definite displays of petty cruelty. The heights of eloquence come across in Shakespearean quotes as do the depths of dullness in stray NPC dialogue (which in its own way is brilliantly expressive). The way the performers of Grand Theft Hamlet comfort and encourage one another is seamlessly juxtaposed against the senseless slaughter erupting around them. It’s like watching angels asking swine for answers to life’s mysteries and the pigs reply by strangling them with strings of pearls.
Now, cynicism can easily suggest degrees of skepticism. There is a very definite narrative to the documentary that feels cinematic and the way certain moments, especially setbacks, can seem like plot points might raise an eyebrow. However, I believe that any skepticism about the movie’s authenticity is a side effect of the film’s presentation.
Grand Theft Hamlet mostly features material recorded in the game. There are no interviews with the featured performers in the flesh. They are only ever their digital avatars. Though this doesn’t prevent them from being humanized, it means certain details get left out. For example — spoiler warning — Sam and his partner Pinny begin to contend with Sam’s emerging video game addiction which is harming their relationship. Whatever resolution there is then takes place offline, so it’s never shared with the audience. As such, Grand Theft Hamlet occasionally leaves certain events incomplete.
These reminders of the documentary’s artifice can spark skepticism. Oddly enough, they also serve as a testament to the cinematic potential of video games. Some of the settings chosen for scenes really help highlight the immersive nature of this theatrical endeavor as Hamlet is performed throughout the immense GTA map.
Furthermore, setting everything in the game underlines one of the documentary’s themes. This is a story about the quarantine culture that evolved during Covid lockdowns. The painful isolation people experienced is touched upon and the attempt to put together Shakespeare’s play is a badly needed restorative for those falling to pieces.
In some ways, Grand Theft Hamlet is a chance to witness someone’s grasp exceeded without failing. This is a tale of potential as well as human connection more than it is an exploration of Shakespeare, although one could argue that many of the bard’s plays are about such themes. The point here is that, regardless of the quality of the performance, the players in this piece pull off something that seems dreadfully close to improbable. There is a prevalent implication of what the future may hold, but for now, there is the promise of a purpose truly fulfilled — the dreamers can still win with imperfect dreams.
That’s because Grand Theft Hamlet is never about pulling off the perfect adaptation of the famous play. Rather, the documentary is a look at what people can accomplish when they act together and do not relent in the face of adversity. The odds are never in the participants’ favor, and that motivates them to work harder, struggling against the improbable. Perhaps that’s why it’s a shame the film doesn’t get to know its performers better. After all, nothing comes of nothing and knowing them more intimately could have given more weight to their delight and dole. But the play is the thing!
Grand Theft Hamlet is an interesting look at the lengths some went to in order to escape the crushing isolation experienced during Covid lockdowns. The documentary gracefully reveals the tantalizing potential of digital realities, suggesting what dreams may come in future incarnations if the events of this film are already possible. It’s also an interesting juxtaposition of artistic forms of expression, raising questions about the value and importance of video games as well as Shakespeare. More than anything, Grand Theft Hamlet reveals how the universal can transcend a uniquely specific era.
