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H Is for Hawk Opens Nationwide as Critics Applaud Claire Foy and Falconry Realism

Early notices describe a spare, grief-driven adaptation that favors authenticity over easy catharsis.

Overview

  • Roadside Attractions released the film in U.S. theaters on Jan. 23.
  • Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and co-written with Emma Donoghue, the drama stars Claire Foy as author Helen Macdonald.
  • The story follows a Cambridge academic processing her father’s sudden death through the rigorous training of a goshawk named Mabel.
  • Filmmakers used multiple real goshawks, filmed actual hunts with drone cinematography, and producer Dede Gardner acquired six chicks during pandemic delays to ensure trained birds.
  • Reviews praise Foy’s restrained performance and the striking craft, noting a streamlined take on the memoir and a challenging, unsentimental portrayal of grief.