Story perspectives

Powerful Grief Explored in 'H is for Hawk'

1/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Philippa Lowthorpe directed 'H is for Hawk,' which follows Helen Macdonald, a Cambridge academic coping with her father's sudden death.
To cope, she adopts a goshawk named Mabel and immerses herself in falconry.
Critics praise Claire Foy's powerful performance and the film's stunning cinematography, though some note a lack of clear narrative focus.
Overall, the film presents a complex, unsettling view of grief rather than a straightforward healing journey.

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Story summary

Philippa Lowthorpe directed 'H is for Hawk,' which follows Helen Macdonald, a Cambridge academic coping with her father's sudden death.
To cope, she adopts a goshawk named Mabel and immerses herself in falconry.
Critics praise Claire Foy's powerful performance and the film's stunning cinematography, though some note a lack of clear narrative focus.
Overall, the film presents a complex, unsettling view of grief rather than a straightforward healing journey.