H Is for Hawk
A sudden loss drives an academic to seek solace in training a fierce goshawk, forging a bond that pulls her back to life.
Where to watch online
Official services. The link goes straight to this film.
Kanopy
Availability data by JustWatch
About the film
What it’s about
After her father's sudden death, Helen retreats from her academic and social life. She buys a wild goshawk named Mabel, hoping the demanding task of training the bird will give her something to hold onto.
What hooks you
Claire Foy plays Helen. Director Philippa Lowthorpe shot all hawk scenes without CGI, using five real birds to play Mabel. Foy underwent an intensive two-week training course with five birds of prey. The film is based on Helen Macdonald's memoir, and Macdonald approved Gleeson's choice of a Scottish accent for her father.
Who it’s for
It is a good pick for those who appreciate quiet, character-driven dramas about grief and healing, and for anyone drawn to stories of human-animal bonds that feel raw and unforced.
- Countries
- United States, United Kingdom, Singapore
- Year
- 2025
- Genre
- Drama
- Running time
- 1h 54min
- Age rating
- 13+
- MPAA
- PG-13
- World premiere
- Aug 29, 2025
Ratings
MOVIE․ONE · 350 votesCreative team
All 12
Trivia
- According to director Philippa Lowthorpe, all scenes with the hawks were shot without the use of computer graphics. Only in one of the hunting scenes was a pheasant, which was to become the hawk's prey, drawn using graphics.
- To make the scenes with the hawk look natural, actress Claire Foy underwent an intensive two-week training course with five birds of prey. According to her trainer, if the birds had not accepted Claire, the film could not have been made.
- The role of Mabel was played by five birds — four female goshawks and one male peregrine falcon. Each of the birds has its own personality, so they only took part in scenes that suited them.
- Alisdair MacDonald was a British photojournalist who worked at The Daily Mirror for 26 years. Alisdair's photographs and cameras were used during the filming of the movie.
- Brendan Gleeson deliberately chose a Scottish accent rather than the London accent of the real Alistair MacDonald. According to the actor, he does not resemble him physically, so he took this artistic liberty to create a similar image. Brendan also clarified that Helen MacDonald, Alistair's daughter and the author of the original book, approved this choice and said that her father would certainly have liked such a decision.
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H Is for Hawk (2025)
H Is for Hawk
2025
H Is for Hawk
2025
H Is for Hawk
2025