‘Elsinore’ Review: A Powerful and Poignant Performance From Andrew Scott | BFI London Film Festival 2026
‘Twas just a year ago, in 2025, when Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet’s tale of family grief for William Shakespeare triggered the collective outpouring of tears amongst cinema audiences. Now Andrew Scott is threatening to evoke similar reactions with his tour de force, poignant, and powerful performance in Elsinore.
Andrew Scott plays Ian Charleson, a real-life theatre actor performing as Hamlet, in the role of his life. Scott does more than just deliver; he imbues the passion of a man prepared to die for his cause à la both Hamlet and Charleson. The result is an emotional, palpable mix of exhilaration and poignancy combined with the awe of watching Charleson’s legacy showcased onscreen for all to witness his admirable, brave battle in the face of taboo.
Scott owns this majestic, mesmerising performance as Charleson, a man on the brink of death who has all sense of life coursing through his veins. Yet Charleson was a man harbouring a secret from many, in an era when same sex relationships remained firmly underground.
Elsinore is expertly directed by Simon Stone and enticingly captures all of this inner turmoil encountered by Scott’s Charleson in an epic, empathetic, and enjoyable fashion despite the seemingly grim premise. The film’s grainy footage evokes the sense of a documentary, but glimpses of Scott, as an actor, also appear within this interpretation.
Scott, himself, had tread the boards as Hamlet and therefore shares an appreciation of the strength needed for such a lengthy performance. On stage, the play is circa three hours which must require tremendous stamina! Reviews of Scott’s own theatrical performance in 2017, at London’s Almeida and Harold Pinter theatres, referenced him as “truly a sweet prince!”
Given that there were no cinema broadcasts of Charleson’s own Hamlet performance to reference in 1989 at The National (its nickname to us Londoners), there is a degree of flexibility afforded to Scott to capture the man that Charleson was whilst giving such an illuminating performance. It’s an impressive feat, which leads to the possibility of Scott’s outstanding depiction provoking Best Actor discussions during awards season.
Why is the film called Elsinore?
As the film focuses on Charleson’s struggles to contain his private life and, secondly, to be permitted to act, despite such activity being detrimental to his health, it may be initially difficult to comprehend this choice of title. Elsinore is the name of Hamlet’s castle within the Shakespearean play, as well as being the English name given to the town in which such a castle is located.
Such castle is renowned for being described as a fortress, and this is a similar description that could be bestowed upon the imposing National Theatre. Within the film, The National is a character in its own right, in which Charleson and the other actors perform.
Yet, its presence constantly looms large, with scenes behind the theatre stage, below the staircases, at the front desk with the stage door managers, and several scenes that highlight the theatre’s interior and formidable Brutalist-style architecture. Indeed, watching this film within the National Theatre’s settings would undoubtedly be an atmospheric, meta-treat.
Another Elsinore connection appears in the form of a spontaneous motorcycle purchase by Charleson, representing his continuous desire for freedom and to live his life on his own terms, notwithstanding the increasing obstacles surrounding him. The motorcycle brand is that of the Honda Elsinore and therefore entirely fitting for the circumstances.
A modern-day reflection of the politics rife in the 1980s
Elsinore sensitively carries audiences through those final few months of Charleson’s life, when he was failing to be recognised for roles other than his leading role within Chariots of Fire. It was only after Daniel Day Lewis walked off stage, playing Hamlet, and never returned that Charleson was given his big break.
Elsinore is therefore that reminder to continue pursuing ambitions no matter how long it takes! Simon Stone has chosen to direct the constant balancing act operating within Elsinore without distraction; the need for an actor to be taken seriously surfaces alongside the potential for an actor to use their profile to make political statements.
Whilst others amongst Charleson’s circle of friends opted to reveal their sexuality to challenge the status quo and raise awareness, for Charleson the decision was to keep his illness secret until the final moment. His preference runs as the film’s undercurrent to allow his acting performance to be judged on its merits rather than pity. An intriguing question therefore arises as to which method may be more effective to raise awareness for the greater good.
Elsinore deftly blends both humour and introspection throughout its running time without labouring the point. Charleson’s best friend Patsy, played by an irrepressible Billie Piper, conscious of how much acting means to Charleson, adopts a British “show must go on” mentality despite painfully watching Charleson deteriorate before her eyes.
The anguish on Andrew Scott’s face during close-ups, in moments where the disease ravages through his body, do not spare audiences from equally experiencing that sense of shame, pain, and confusion. It is a powerful moment to share collectively.
Elsinore highlights pioneering medical research
At the height of the HIV and AIDS crisis in the ‘80s, Olivia Colman’ s Professor Margaret Johnson was a pioneering doctor at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, London. She adopted a humane but strict approach to treating patients during the crisis. It is against her no-nonsense approach that Scott’s Charleson is also in defiance. She wished to preserve life and to keep him safe at all costs, whereas he wished to consume life, as acting was his life.
It’s a battle of wills between Charleson and Professor Johnson over his stage performances that presents a fascinating, absorbing dynamic. Both actors rise to the challenge perfectly with their chemistry, demonstrating the film’s seamless ability to switch between light humour and devastation.
Elsinore (2026) movie rating and overall impressions
Elsinore is a thoroughly affecting rendition that powerfully devastates whilst interweaving political statements. It is riveting from start to finish with multifaceted performances and meta aspects with actors within the film playing other actors performing roles they have similarly played in the theatre! As such, a sense of family reverberates due to the reunion of Scott, Stevenson and Luke Thompson after previously performing in theatre together.
The film also showcases the legacy left by Charleson with the Ian Charleson annual awards being awarded to theatre actors under 30; it is also exceptional awareness of Professor Johnson’s ongoing work and the Ian Charleson Day Centre set up at the Royal Free Hospital to undertake further research into HIV and provide care for those HIV patients.
Elsinore is bound not to leave a dry eye in the house but shows the impact, for us all, of that one person trying to make a difference! This is truly an inspirational tale and has unsurprisingly received 12 BIFA 2026 nominations. The film will have a limited release in the U.S. on November 20, 2026, before a more expanded release, including a January 29, 2026, release in the U.K..
Also check out: Review: All of Us Strangers is a Heart-wrenching Daydream
