Leading charity Anam Cara says the film offers a raw look at how the death of a child permanently reshapes the lives of parents and siblings alike. By encouraging society to speak a child's name and acknowledge their life, the organization hopes to replace uncomfortable silence with lasting support and compassion.

Award-winning "Hamnet" has opened a door for people to have difficult conversations about the death of children in Ireland, a charity has said.

The movie, starring Oscar-nominated Jessie Buckley, portrays the loss of William Shakespeare’s and his wife Anne’s 11-year-old son.

All-island charity Anam Cara, which supports bereaved parents, says as a society, Irish people often do not know how to respond to such tragedy.

“'Hamnet' portrays grief not as something neat or easily resolved, but as something that lives in the body and in everyday life,” said charity CEO, Michelle Reynolds.

“It shows how parents grieve differently, and how loss can affect relationships in lasting ways. 

“I hope it has helped audiences to better understand how complex grief can be, and has opened up important conversations around a topic many people find difficult.

“The movie demonstrates how life is permanently altered after the death of a child, and how grief is experienced not just by parents, but by siblings too.

“As a society, we often don’t know how to respond to child loss.

“'Hamnet' reminds us how important it is to speak a child’s name, to acknowledge their life, and to create space where parents can express their grief.”

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To mark National Grief Awareness Week, which runs until Sunday, (Feb 1) Anam Cara wants people nationwide to know parents do not need to grieve alone - and all families who experience the death of a child are met with understanding, support and compassion.

“At Anam Cara, we know that the death of a child changes everything in a parent’s world - how they see themselves, their relationships, and their future,” said Ms Reynolds.

“The grief is lifelong and deeply individual, and it can feel very isolating, especially when those around them don’t fully understand the depth of that loss.

“National Grief Awareness Week gives us vital pause to acknowledge grief as a natural human experience, and to reflect on how it might be living quietly in the lives of those around us.

“When a child has died, many people feel deeply uncomfortable talking about it. Out of fear of saying the wrong thing, they may say nothing at all, but that silence can leave bereaved parents feeling even more alone.” 

Anam Cara was founded by bereaved parents to make sure that every bereaved mother or father has access to bereavement support, no matter the age of the child, the cause of death or when the death occurred.

All of Anam Cara’s services are provided free of charge and rely on the kindness and support of donors and the community.

For more information see www.anamcara.ie.