H is for Hawk Review
H Is For Hawk is a fascinating movie that expertly navigates the connection between people and nature, and how it’s possible to find unexpected love after loss. It’s based on a true story and a memoir of the same name by Helen MacDonald, a writer and academic, who unexpectedly lost their father at 67. Helen is played by the exceptional Claire Foyย with Brendan Gleeson playing Helen’s father, Alistair, who was a well-known press photographer for the likes of the Daily Mirror.
After the passing, Helen is understandably consumed with grief, but she soon loses herself in memories of the time she and Alistair spent observing the natural world. She then decides to get her own goshawk by adapting the magnificent Mabel (played by two different goshawks in the film). As the story unfolds, Helen attempts to teach Mabel how to hunt and fly free on her own, but in doing so, neglects her own life and well-being.
I was surprised throughout by how quickly I felt moved towards the, often non-linear, portrayal of the relationship between father and daughter. It is a method that doesn’t traditionally make me feel strong emotions towards characters, and yet, despite Gleeson‘s character passing early in the film, I still felt huge towards both characters. The strong performances by both Gleeson and Foy only help with this, with an authenticity throughout that really helps you feel the loss of the beloved father figure within the family.
These emotions were only elevated by the smart direction (by Philippa Lowthorpe, known for The Other Boleyn Girl and Call The Midwife), and evocative cinematography (by Charlotte Bruus Christensen, known for A Murder at the End of the World on Hulu). I really liked the way the story was often framed to create a clear picture of the memories going through Helen’s mind, with the approach often being used in a way to break Helen out of the present into her own past. There was also some clever camera work later in the film as Helen’s personality and lifestyle began to mimic the isolated nature of Mabel’s.
There is a huge amount of care in the portrayal of the fierce yet beautiful goshawks. When Helen walks Mabel through the streets of Cambridge to help the goshawk adapt to its surroundings, Foy seems genuinely nervous to be doing so, which really helps with establishing the trust between the two. When Helen is experiencing feelings of isolation and sadness, the camera focuses on how inquisitive Mabel is, which personalises the creature without ever lapsing into anthropomorphism. Such creative decisions establish Mabel’s importance in the story alongside the human characters.
Unfortunately, the film ends up feeling overstretched with its 2-hour 10-minute runtime: there are a couple of sections in the middle where the pace slows to a crawl, and it’s only really saved by the tour de force performance by Foy who is commendably raw and impassioned in her depiction of grief and redemption. It seemed unclear at points whether it wanted the audience to focus on the relationship between Helen and Mabel or between Helen and their Dad.ย
Nevertheless, H is For Hawk ends up being a moving journey through grief anchored by some fantastic cast performances. It’s honest and emotional with captivating and beautiful scenes throughout focused on Mabel. Despite the slower sections, it still offers audiences a unique viewing experience thanks to its focus on the connection between people and nature.
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In Cinemas from January 23rd / Claire Foy, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Spruell, Josh Dylan, Denise Gough, Emma Cunniffe, Arty Froushan, Lindsay Duncan / Dir: Philippa Lowthorpe / Lionsgate / 12A
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