Shadows on the Wall | H Is for Hawk

H Is for Hawk

dir Philippa Lowthorpe
scr Emma Donoghue, Philippa Lowthorpe
prd Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
with Claire Foy, Brendan Gleeson, Lindsay Duncan, Denise Gough, Sam Spruell, Emma Cunniffe, Josh Dylan, Arty Froushan, Darcy Alexander, Katy Carmichael, Sean Kearns, Megan Oxtoby
release UK/US 23.Jan.26
25/UK Film4 1h54

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Based on a true story, this British drama is strikingly well written and performed, bringing real-life humour into a story that grapples honestly with inexplicable feelings of grief. Director Philippa Lowthorpe tells story with scenes that are shot in unusually artistic ways, especially the gorgeous nature photography. This is a warmly emotional film that avoids even a hint of sentimentality, capturing our interest with arresting imagery and resonant themes.

In 2007 Cambridge, science professor Helen (Foy) shares a love of birdwatching with her much-adored photojournalist father (Gleeson). When he dies suddenly, her pragmatic mother (Duncan) and brother (Dylan) try to get on with life, but Helen feels increasingly off balance. So she buys a feisty goshawk she names Mabel. Her birding friend Stuart (Spruell) offers advice, and her best pal Christina (Gough) provides support, and Helen finds that training Mabel requires the intense focus she needs. Although the people around her begin to worry that the hawk is a distraction from her deeper feelings.

Helen's swirling memories reveal scenes of her close relationship with her dad, who was always working, even when he wasn't traveling with his job. Helen's mind is equally busy with her work, but caring for a hawk is allowing her to put off making a decision about her future. Then as she reminisces about her father, she begins to learn things about herself. And the screenplay delves into her complex web of underlying thoughts and connections.

The script is superbly minimalistic, allowing the actors to reveal unspoken ideas. Even without dialog, Foy finds ways to invite the audience inside, especially as she connects with this large, cranky bird, and then helps to release its instincts as a fearsome hunting machine. Helen's conflicting emotions are fascinating. The cast around her is also unusually authentic, offering a sense of their own full lives beyond Helen, as well as their love for her.

As Stuart reminds Helen, Mabel needs to work out her place in the world. Of course, so does Helen. When people question Helen allowing her hawk to hunt woodland animals, her response is gut-wrenching honest as it highlights the bird's true nature. Her grief has left her feeling disconnected with everything and everyone around her, but she's been conditioned to simply say that all is well. The lingering question is how we convince ourselves that everything really is going to be alright.

themes, language 7.Dec.25

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