Fat Ham
Fat Ham

Movie spotlight

Fat Ham

2021
Movie
90 min
English

Critically-acclaimed playwright James Ijames reinvents Shakespeare’s masterpiece with his new drama, FAT HAM. Juicy is a queer, Southern college kid, already grappling with some serious questions of identity, when the ghost of his father shows up in their backyard, demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. It feels like a familiar story to Juicy, well-versed in Hamlet’s woes. What’s different is Juicy himself, a sensitive and self-aware young Black man trying to break the cycles of trauma and violence in service of his own liberation. From an uproarious family barbecue emerges a compelling examination of love and loss, pain and joy.

Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes95%
Metacritic83
Google Users94%
Director: Jordan E. CooperGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

Fat Ham is a filmed version of the acclaimed stage play that reimagines Shakespeare's Hamlet in the context of a modern Black family in Southern Maryland. It centers on Jah, a young, queer man grappling with the recent death of his father. As his mother prepares to marry his uncle, Jah is visited by his father's ghost, who urges him to seek revenge, sending Jah on a comedic and tragic journey of self-discovery and confrontation.

Critical Reception

Fat Ham garnered significant critical acclaim, particularly for its innovative adaptation of a classic text and its sharp, humorous, and poignant exploration of Black identity, family dynamics, and grief. Reviewers lauded its fresh perspective and powerful performances, earning it numerous awards and nominations.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its hilarious and heartfelt modernization of Hamlet.

  • Celebrated for its witty dialogue and profound exploration of Black queer identity.

  • Lauded for its dynamic performances and timely themes.

Google audience: Audiences were overwhelmingly positive, appreciating the play's humor, emotional depth, and unique cultural perspective. Many highlighted its relevance and the exceptional talent of its cast and creators.

Awards & Accolades

Winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Winner of Best Play at the 2022 Tony Awards, Winner of Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play.

Fun Fact

The play's titular character, Jah, is inspired by the Shakespearean protagonist Hamlet, but his journey is recontextualized through the lens of a queer Black man navigating family trauma and societal expectations.

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