Can nature help someone deal with grief? A daughter faces complicated feelings about life and death in “H is for Hawk.” The film sees Helen immerse herself in nature after her father’s unexpected death. A bond with falconry, and Mabel the goshawk, proves to be just what she needs to confront sorrow. ‘Hawk’ is based on Helen Macdonald’s 2014 memoir of the same name. The project is helmed by director Philippa Lowthorpe, with a screenplay written by the filmmaker and Emma Donoghue.
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Claire Foy stars as Helen. The actress previously starred in Netflix’s “The Crown” and more recently portrayed Anne Boleyn in “Wolf Hall.” Academy Award nominee Brendan Gleeson co-stars as Helen’s late father. He is also set to appear in the anticipated series “Spider-Noir.” Denise Gough, Sam Spruell, and Lindsay Duncan round out the cast of ‘Hawk.’
The film’s official synopsis:
H is for Hawk follows Helen (Foy), who, after the sudden death of her father (Gleeson), loses herself in the memories of their time birding and exploring the natural world together and turns the ancient art of falconry—rooted in European tradition—training a wild goshawk named Mabel to navigate her profound loss. But as she teaches Mabel to hunt and fly free, Helen discovers how deeply she has neglected her own emotions and life. What begins as an act of endurance transforms into an intimate journey of resilience and healing.
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Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner serve as producers on “H is for Hawk.” The film will debut with a one-week-only awards qualifying run in December. It is set to open in theaters nationwide in January 2026. Get your first look at the trailer below.
