H Is for Hawk (film)

Last updated

H Is for Hawk
H is for Hawk poster.jpeg
US theatrical release poster
Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe
Written by
Based on H is for Hawk
by Helen MacDonald
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Charlotte Bruus Christensen
Edited byNico Leunen
Music by Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch
Production
companies
Distributed by Lionsgate (United Kingdom)
Roadside Attractions (United States)
Release dates
  • 29 August 2025 (2025-08-29)(Telluride)
  • 23 January 2026 (2026-01-23)(United States and United Kingdom)
Running time
115 minutes [a]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$624,513 [5]

H Is for Hawk is a 2025 biographical drama film directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, who co-wrote the screenplay with Emma Donoghue, based on the 2014 memoir by naturalist Helen MacDonald. It stars Claire Foy, Brendan Gleeson, Denise Gough, Sam Spruell, and Lindsay Duncan. The film tells the true story of a woman who tends to a Goshawk after the death of her father. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.

Contents

Plot

H Is for Hawk chronicles Helen Macdonald’s experience of grief following the sudden death of her father and her decision to train a goshawk as a means of coping with that loss. The narrative interweaves two strands: Macdonald’s personal bereavement and the practical and psychological challenges of falconry.

After her father’s death, Macdonald retreats from her previous academic and social life and immerses herself in the demanding discipline of hawk training. She acquires a female goshawk, named Mabel, and devotes herself to the meticulous routines required to tame and hunt with the bird. The process is portrayed as both physically exhausting and emotionally consuming, drawing Macdonald into an intense, solitary relationship with the hawk and the wild instincts it embodies.

As Macdonald becomes increasingly absorbed in falconry, she describes a gradual withdrawal from ordinary human concerns, seeking refuge in the clarity and harshness of the natural world. This immersion brings moments of exhilaration and communion with nature, but also exposes the limits and dangers of attempting to escape grief by erasing one’s humanity.

The movie concludes with Macdonald’s slow re-engagement with the human world. While her bond with Mabel remains significant, she comes to recognise that grief cannot be fully mastered or outrun. Instead, it must be integrated into a renewed, if altered, sense of self, allowing space for both loss and connection.

Cast

Production

The film was announced in February 2024, directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and written by Emma Donoghue. Based on H is for Hawk , the 2014 memoir by Helen MacDonald, it stars Claire Foy and Brendan Gleeson and has been developed with Film4, who executive produced and co-financed. [7] The film was also produced by Plan B Entertainment, which had been attached to an adaptation of the book with Lena Headey in 2017. [8] [9] In November 2024, Lionsgate acquired UK and Irish distribution rights to the film from Protagonist Pictures. [10]

Filming began in Cambridge in November 2024. [11] [12] Filming also took place in Wales and London. [13]

In October 2025, Roadside Attractions acquired the North American distribution rights. [6]

Release

The film had its premiere at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival. [14] [15] The film also screened at the London Film Festival. [16]

The film was released in the United States by Roadside Attractions in December 2025 for a one-week "awards-qualifying run", which was followed by a wide release on 23 January 2026. [6] [17] Lionsgate also released the film in the United Kingdom on 23 January. [18]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 80% of 88 critics' reviews are positive.The website's consensus reads: "Pairing Claire Foy's psychologically raw performance with lush, evocative imagery, H Is for Hawk approaches its tale of grief and acceptance with bruising realism and thoughtful candor." [19] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 63 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [20]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Zurich Film Festival September 29, 2025Golden Eye Award Claire Foy Won [21]
British Independent Film Awards November 30, 2025 Best Cinematography Charlotte Bruus Christensen Nominated [22]
British Academy Film Awards February 22, 2026 Outstanding British Film Philippa Lowthorpe, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Emma Donoghue Pending [23]

Notes

  1. ↑ The original cut has a runtime of 128 minutes and 130 minutes, respectively. [1] [2] [3] The cut version runs for 115 minutes, [2] although some list that cut as 119 minutes. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Han, Angie (August 31, 2025). "'H Is for Hawk' Review: Claire Foy and Her Bird Fly High in a Tender but Overlong Grief Drama". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "H is for Hawk". British Board of Film Classification . September 8, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2026. The original 15 cut runs for 130 minutes and 18 seconds, while the 12A cut runs for 115 minutes and 10 seconds.
  3. ↑ Hammond, Pete (August 30, 2025). "'H Is For Hawk' Review: Claire Foy Soars High In True Drama About A Woman And A Goshawk Who Bond Over Life And Loss – Telluride Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  4. ↑ "H Is For Hawk[PG]". Alberta Film Classification Office . December 5, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  5. ↑ "H Is for Hawk". Box Office Mojo . IMDb . Retrieved January 30, 2026. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Scott Feinberg (October 10, 2025). "'H Is for Hawk' Acquired by Roadside; Claire Foy Will Receive Oscar Push for Star Turn (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  7. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (February 9, 2024). "Claire Foy & Brendan Gleeson To Star In 'H Is For Hawk' For Plan B & 'Poor Things' Things Backer Film4; Protagonist Launches EFM Buzz Pic". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ Berger, Laura (July 7, 2017). "Lena Headey to Star in and Produce Adaptation of "H Is for Hawk" with Plan B". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  9. ↑ Egner, Jeremy (July 5, 2017). "Lena Headey, Cersei in 'Game of Thrones,' Has Her Own Power Moves". New York Times . Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ Tabbara, Mona (November 7, 2024). "Lionsgate picks up 'H Is For Hawk' with Claire Foy and Brendan Gleeson for UK-Ireland, as Wales shoot gets underway" . Screen Daily . Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  11. ↑ Findlay, Cait (October 18, 2024). "The Crown actress Claire Foy set to star in movie filming soon in Cambridge". Cambridge News . Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  12. ↑ Findlay, Cait (November 5, 2024). "Movie featuring Netflix star begins filming in Cambridge". Cambridge News . Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  13. ↑ Singh, Sartaj (August 6, 2024). "Claire Foy and Brendan Gleeson's 'H Is For Hawk' Begins Filming in Wales and London in October". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  14. ↑ Feinberg, Scott (August 28, 2025). "Telluride: 'Springsteen' and 'Hamnet' World Premieres, Baumbach, Hawke, Panahi and Ross Career Tributes Announced". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  15. ↑ Hammond, Pete (August 30, 2025). "'H Is For Hawk' Review: Claire Foy Soars High In True Drama About A Woman And A Goshawk Who Bond Over Life And Loss – Telluride Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  16. ↑ "H Is for Hawk". BFI London Film Festival. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  17. ↑ Weisburd, Audrey (November 5, 2025). "Claire Foy Takes Flight in the First Trailer for H Is for Hawk". Paste . Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  18. ↑ "All Future Releases". Film Distributors’ Association. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  19. ↑ "H Is for Hawk". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  20. ↑ "H Is for Hawk". Metacritic . Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Golden Eyes for Films from Slovakia and Switzerland" (PDF). Zurich Film Festival. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  22. ↑ Ritman, Alex (November 3, 2025). "'My Father's Shadow,' 'Pillion' and 'I Swear' Lead British Independent Film Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  23. ↑ Ntim, Zac (January 27, 2026). "BAFTA Nominations 2026: 'One Battle After Another' & 'Sinners' Lead The Pack — See Full List". Deadline. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
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