H is for Hawk

By Joanna Langfield

This well-intentioned story of grief only takes flight during one key scene. But what a scene that is!

Based on Helen Macdonald’s memoir, the film is a poignant, intimate look at one woman’s effort to grieve the father she adored. Devastated by his sudden death, Helen flounders at her prestigious job, unsure of her next steps. Finding some comfort in her memories of her time spent with her father, along with their shared interest in falconry, Helen purchases her own wild goshawk, with plans to train the animal, both in the wild and in far more confined quarters of English academia.

Writer/director Philippa Lowthorpe brings great compassion as well as a natural curiosity to this familiar story with a twist. The theme of mourning, and how individual it is, is handled with grace, even if it is not especially cinematic. Viewers used to zipped up action or even goofy not quite rom-coms will be frustrated by the intentional pacing. But, just as we are almost ready to move on from the woman who can’t move on herself, something remarkable happens. Mabel, the hawk, comes home. And it is up to Helen to try and train her.

A wonderful Claire Foy is especially astonishing in this prolonged scene. Sitting in the muted darkness of a small apartment, Foy goes through the initial stages of trying to establish a relationship with the wild animal.

The ego-less performance Foy allows, as Helen declines, becomes even more remarkable as she shares the camera with Mabel. Because now Helen must focus on Mabel. And Mabel may or may not make that so easy. This initial sequence is so unique, so compelling, we find ourselves wishing the rest of the film were, too. But what magic there is to be had here, even if it’s just for a few moments.