A One Mann’s Movies review of “H Is For Hawk” (2026, 4*, 12A).
“H Is For Hawk” was one of the films nominated for the 2026 BAFTAs, and to be honest I’m a bit surprised that it wasn’t nominated also in some other categories, including cinematography, music, screenplay and the inimitable Claire Foy in the (admittedly, very crowded and illustrious) Lead Actress category. Because it’s a cracking little British film that deserves to be seen on the big screen (for the cinematography alone).
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
It’s 2007, Helen (Claire Foy), a lecturer and researcher at Jesus College Cambridge, is extremely close to her rascally photo-journalist father (Brendan Gleeson), who loves his job and refuses to retire. When he suddenly dies, Helen’s academic world is rocked to its core. She turns to falconry to try to find some escape from the grief.
Certification:
UK: 12A; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Infrequent strong language, drug misuse, injury detail, sex references”.)
Talent:
Starring: Claire Foy, Brendan Gleeson, Denise Gough, Lindsay Duncan, Josh Dylan.
Directed by: Philippa Lowthorpe.
Written by: Emma Donoghue & Philippa Lowthorpe, (Based on the autobiography by Helen MacDonald.)
Running Time: 1h 59m.
Summary:
Positives:
- A really compelling script with some great dialogue.
- The acting of Foy and Gleeson is exceptional. You really buy into their relationship.
- Poignant and uplifting story.
- The cinematography is incredible.
- The music is superbly fitting.
Negatives:
- A face injury thrown into the story is a bit odd.
Full Review of “H is for Hawk”:
Into the valley of grief and out again.
I’ve read that this book is “beloved” by many people and they are disappointed by the film which they say ‘lacks its emotional depth’. But I have only the film to judge and I found it a really interesting study of grief.
Firstly, time is spent to build the relationship between Helen and her Dad, both with scenes before the event and then through flashbacks. ‘Dad’ (Gleeson) is a great character, a famous photographer (I assume the epic shots of Charles/Diana, Mick Jagger, etc actually ARE his) and a cheeky rogue: while driving with Helen, he comes across a fresh crime scene and blithely snaps away with his camera despite police protest and brushing off threats to confiscate his camera with a brusque “No you won’t”.
Then, after his death, Foy is SUCH a great actress that she is brilliantly able to portray the stages of grief as she destroys her career, tries (and fails) to alienate her best friend Christina (Denise Gough), kills any chance of romance, stops taking good care of herself and neglects the housework.
Where does the Hawk come in?
The rationale as to WHY Helen gets a hawk, and not just a little hawk but a Goshawk, is not made incredibly clear by the film. Perhaps it is better explained through her mental processes in the book. There is clearly a love of hawks shared with her Dad. But since she fervently rejects one Goshawk in favour of another, she clearly thinks there is some sort of spiritual connection between the hawk, Mabel, and her deceased Dad.
A star of the show is Mabel herself. The scenes where Helen is initial training Mabel in her little flat are superb and surprisingly tense.
Brilliant cinematography
The film really takes flight (literally) during the amazing scenes where Helen takes Mabel hunting in the countryside. The cinematography by Charlotte Bruus Christensen is just amazing here, with the camera (drone) following the hawk as it pursues a rabbit and then a pheasant through a wood, brush and hedges. I see there is a “special effects” team, so I can’t believe that all of this stuff was ‘in camera’ but it is all so good that it all looks like it is.
There are also some more ‘traditional’ “wow” shots. A shot where Helen knocks on the door of a party with her eye framed by an etched whirlwind in the glass door is superb, for example.
The screenplay is really solid.
The screenplay is filled with memorable dialogue that is very cleverly written.
I particularly loved some of these moments:
- The film demonstrates some of the comical absurdities of death: one lovely one, which makes Helen roar with inappropriate laughter, is when an Indian waiter finds out the reason for Helen’s lack of appetite and provides her with a consolation sticky toffee pudding… “for your loss”! Another is when Helen and her brother James (Josh Dylan) have to decide on a coffin design and the undertaker presents them with an absurd range of ‘themed coffins’ that again provokes hilarity. Anyone has travelled through the process of death and burial will realise how many blackly comic moments occur.
- An exchange between Helen and her worried Mum (a superb Lindsay Duncan who – like in “About Time” – plays a grieving widow really well). Her mum is desperately worried about her daughter and thinks that the hawk is a distraction from her properly coming to terms with her grief. Her mum pleads with her to not be so obsessed with Mabel, treating it more like a hobby. Helen replies, with a little smirk, “I don’t have a hobby… I have a hawk”, which is actually a really clever little gag for ornithologists (for this reason).
- As Christina (Denise Gough) comes into Helen’s flat and sees Mabel with a hood on her head, she comments “All a tad fetish dungeon”, LOL.
- The 1408 quote from Julian of Norwich: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well”. A wise woman with uplifting words for a positive outlook on life.
Fabulous Music
Another big plus for the film is the soundtrack by the wonderful Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch. (Foy was the actress in one of Levienaise-Farrouch’s previously scored hit, the wonderful “All of Us Strangers“). Once again her string-based soundtrack really brings the pictures to life.
When Hawk’s Attack.
There’s only one point in the screenplay that’s a bit odd. At one point, Helen’s family arrive at her house and she opens the door with her face cut and bloodied. She says that Mabel attacked her on instinct as she tried to take a kill away from her. But it’s a really strange cut, since we never see this event and it feels like we should have. Perhaps it was trimmed and on the cutting room floor to get the running time sub-2 hours.
Suitable for older kids?
The film is rated 12A, but in general I think older children would get a lot out of this. It does obviously cover some heavy themes of death, grief and mental illness, but I think it covers it in a caring way, with everyone around her batting for Helen and being supportive. And the scenes of Mabel being trained and hunting will be thrilling for young animal lovers. Note though that Helen chain-smokes continuously – a source for interesting discussion with kids, given how little you see it today – and there is one “fuck” and the odd “shit”, language-wise (but no more than is heard in every junior school playground on a daily basis!)
Summary Thoughts:
This film I found to be a delight and comes with a strong recommendation. This is yet another of those British films that an older generation of silver-dollar cinema goers will embrace if they can find it. After a slow box office start, I think this is one – like “The Ballad of Wallis Island” – that will gain momentum with word of mouth, and matinee performances in particular will be well-attended if it can stay in cinemas for a few weeks.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73V6kQfGyt0.
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