Published on April 5, 2026
No sooner have we been applauding one movie that tackles grief than another comes along and blows you away. Just like ‘Hamnet,’ Philippa Lowthorpe’s ‘H is for Hawk’ is a gripping watch.
Adapted from naturalist Helen MacDonald’s prizewinning 2014 memoir about how training a goshawk helped her process the shocking death of her father, this film is a piercingly honest meditation on life, loss, and the wonder of nature. The screenplay is crafted Emma Donoghue and features Claire Foy as the Cambridge academic whose love of birds was instilled at an early age , portrayed as Alisdair, an accomplished press photographer.
Plunged into grief after Alisdair’s sudden death from a heart attack at the age of 71, Helen becomes obsessed with the idea of raising a goshawk, despite having no prior experience with a bird of that size. With guidance from Sam Spruell’s falconer Stuart, she sources a bird and drives to Stranraer with her Australian friend, Christina, played , to purchase one from Sean Kearns’ gruff Northern Irish breeder.
As Helen begins training the bird she names Mabel, her friends express growing concern over her disconnection from life. Her home becomes chaotic, filled with unwashed plates and rotting raw meat in the kitchen. As her academic responsibilities slip away, Helen edges perilously close to becoming a recluse.
The film poses a crucial question: Is Helen’s obsession with Mabel a help or a hindrance? ‘H is for Hawk’ is sensitively written, subtly directed, and superbly acted, providing an unflinching portrayal of life’s messiness. Helen is upended loss of a father she idolized, and the film beautifully captures the way grief can seep into every aspect of life, emerging unexpectedly even months after a loss.
Moving sequences evoke sudden flashes of memory, while others convey a pervasive sense of emptiness. Foy is more than capable of depicting Helen’s profound grief, delivering a performance as impressive and insightful as Jessie Buckley’s in ‘Hamnet,’ albeit more subdued. Gleeson’s portrayal of Alisdair in flashbacks is warm and generous, convincingly showcasing the father-daughter bond. Supporting performances from Spruell and Gough as concerned friends round out the ensemble, as do Lindsay Duncan and Josh Dylan as family members who become increasingly worried ’s eccentric and reclusive behavior.
Danish cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christiansen employs an unobtrusive visual style that perfectly complements the film, while Lowthorpe and editor Nico Leunen maintain a deliberate and assured pace. Together, these elements make ‘H is for Hawk’ a wonderful winter’s watch.
In fact, the film is so captivating it invites comparison to Ken Loach’s classic ‘Kes,’ suggesting it would make a fantastic double bill. Furthermore, ‘H is for Hawk’ serves as a prime example of Film 4’s significant contributions to British cinema, producing thoughtful films that respect the intelligence of their audience. Long may Film 4 continue to enhance the cinematic landscape with meaningful stories.
‘H is for Hawk’ opened in UK and Irish cinemas on January 23, 2026.
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