Movies exploring the bond between humans and animals have grown into a genre of their own, from Penguin Bloom to The Friend. At this year’s Telluride Film Festival, Philippa Lowthorpe’s H Is for Hawk adds a powerful entry to that lineage, adapting Helen Macdonald’s 2014 memoir about finding solace in falconry after her father’s sudden death.
A Story of Loss and Connection
The film follows Helen Macdonald (Claire Foy), whose world is shattered by the passing of her father (Brendan Gleeson), a devoted photographer and her closest companion in nature. Struggling with grief, Helen acquires a goshawk named Mabel from a breeder (Sean Kearns) and begins the arduous process of training her.
What starts as a rocky and unpredictable endeavor becomes a transformative journey. For Helen, training Mabel is not only a way to help the bird thrive in the wild but also a deeply personal act of healing, a tether to her father’s memory and the time they shared outdoors.
Performances Anchored in Authenticity
Claire Foy delivers what may be her most powerful screen performance yet, balancing raw emotion with the technical precision of portraying someone learning falconry. Working opposite an animal co-star with unpredictable behavior only heightens her achievement.
Gleeson, seen mostly in flashbacks, brings warmth and charm as a father whose love for his daughter resonates through her grief. Lindsay Duncan as Helen’s mother and Denise Gough as her supportive best friend round out a cast that grounds the story in authenticity and empathy.
Visual Brilliance and Restraint in Storytelling
Visually, H Is for Hawk is stunning. Charlotte Bruus Christensen’s cinematography, enhanced by wildlife expert Mark Payne-Gill, captures both the exquisite landscapes and the delicate relationship between Helen and Mabel. The hawk trainers Rose and Lloyd Buck ensure that the bird work feels natural and genuine.
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Importantly, Lowthorpe and co-writer Emma Donoghue avoid easy sentimentality. While the premise could lean into “cute animal” clichés, the film respects the inherent wildness of the goshawk and the rawness of grief. Instead of pandering, it earns its emotional weight, creating a drama that resonates universally with anyone who has navigated loss.
A Poignant Festival Highlight
Produced by Plan B and Film4, H Is for Hawk is an unflinching yet beautiful meditation on grief, resilience, and the redemptive power of nature. At 2 hours and 10 minutes, it takes its time, but with purpose — much like the painstaking process of healing itself.
With its combination of intimate performances, breathtaking cinematography, and thematic depth, H Is for Hawk stands out as one of Telluride’s most moving premieres.
