Film Review: H IS FOR HAWK (2025): Claire Foy is Wonderful in a Truly Moving Drama About the Impact of Loss on the Human Spirit
H Is for Hawk Review
H Is for Hawk (2025) Film Review, a movie directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, written by Helen MacDonald, Emma Donoghue and Philippa Lowthorpe and starring Claire Foy, Brendan Gleeson, Denise Gough, Lindsay Duncan, Imogen Duffy, Josh Dylan, Eden Hamilton, James Parsons, Arty Froushan, Miranda Bell, Sam Spruell, Emma Cunniffe, Claudius Peters and Garry Cooper.
Filmmaker Philippa Lowthorpe has crafted the emotionally soaring new drama, H Is for Hawk. Lowthorpe’s new dramatic gem showcases the always intriguing Claire Foy at the top of her game as an academic named Helen who discovers abilities to help cope with loss through her bond with a Goshawk named Mabel. This movie could seem like a potentially feel-good movie on the surface, but it proves to be something much more than just a heartwarming tale of a woman coming to terms with her dad (Brendan Gleeson)’s death. This is a moving story of the experiences that shape Helen’s life through all her joys, sorrows, pains and passions. It’s a beautifully rendered tale about the need to find the strength to continue moving forward in life. It’s, quite simply, an emotionally powerful triumph.
As the film opens, we learn of Helen’s dad’s death. Helen is preparing for a change in career through a fellowship which would help her advance significantly. Helen finds that even though she seemed as if she was on the right path, her father’s loss knocks her down to the ground as she finds the willpower to thrive through her interaction with the hawk known as Mabel. Helen comes close to not taking Mabel home and is given the opportunity to take another hawk home instead. She chooses the more distinct looking one of the two available hawks and the provider has to switch the customers for the two hawks. When Helen starts to interact with Mabel, she finds peace even though Mabel needs to eat an occasional rabbit and scratches Helen when Mabel is afraid of not getting fed.
Helen’s mom (Lindsay Duncan) tries to stand in Helen’s corner, but it becomes clear that Helen is starting to suffer from depression as her work soon becomes sloppier and her reasoning abilities seem to be swayed by her unusual relationship with Mabel. Helen takes Mabel everywhere with her. This has pros and cons in her life, but when Helen is asked not only to provide a lecture to advance her career but a eulogy for her dad, she finds the overwhelming weight of the life that has been thrust upon her after the heartbreak of losing her father.
Many scenes here are authentically raw as a scratched up Helen sits under her bed in a deep depression. It’s clear that Mabel seems to have grown used to Helen, but is the love they have for one another real? This movie would like us to think so as Mabel looks on towards Helen with a look that shows as if she truly cares for her new owner. Mabel is a hawk and has violent tendencies, but that is what is expected in nature. Mabel can’t give back to Helen what Helen needs or can she? How will Helen overcome tragedy and triumph again in life? Thankfully, Lowthorpe offers no easy answers to the complicated questions the film proposes.
Claire Foy is simply astounding in an occasionally reserved performance that hits some very strong notes. She gives the performance of her career, especially in a scene where she talks to a doctor about her depression and answers the professional’s questions in a heartbreaking, honest way. Brendan Gleeson’s flashback sequences are moving as Gleeson plays an ambitious man who almost always wears a suit in anticipation of potential great things to come. Gleeson is believable and heartfelt as the dad whose influence over his daughter is immeasurable. The scenes between Foy and Gleeson are full of emotionally uplifting interaction which helps balance out the heavy drama from the scenes of Helen’s depression. In support, Denise Gough more than holds her own beside her stellar company as the supportive character, Christina.
H Is for Hawk is also noteworthy for its presentation of Mabel. Another movie could have made Mabel overly cute, but the new picture always keeps the hawk feeling like a real animal instead of turning it into an excuse for schmaltz. Though the bond is intelligently written between Helen and Mabel, the movie never takes shortcuts to arrive at its powerful conclusion. This film’s emotional impact is well conveyed and the tears the movie gets from the viewer are 100% earned. Foy has never been better on-screen.
This movie will stay with viewers long after its conclusion as it makes one wholeheartedly believe in the healing power of love and the methods of coping with loss that can make living life tolerable (and possible) again. H Is for Hawk is the best kind of tearjerker. It’s one that never manipulates the viewer and leaves the audience deeply moved by Foy’s one-of-a-kind leading turn.
Rating: 9/10
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