culture and entertainment - Philippa Lowthorpe's adaptation of Helen Macdonald's bestselling memoir brings to screen an unconventional story of mourning and recovery, featuring a compelling performance by Claire Foy. The 128-min...
ute film transforms Macdonald's eloquent meditation on grief into a visually striking narrative about finding solace in the wild.
The story follows Helen (Foy) in the aftermath of her father Alisdair MacDonald's death, portrayed warmly by Brendan Gleeson in flashbacks. Rather than following conventional paths of grieving, Helen turns to an unusual source of comfort: training a goshawk named Mabel. This decision, while seemingly eccentric, becomes a profound journey of healing and self-discovery.
The film excels in its visual portrayal of the falconry process, with cinematographer Mark Payne-Gill capturing breathtaking footage of the magnificent predator in action. The intimate moments between Foy and the bird (played by two different goshawks) create some of the most mesmerizing sequences in recent cinema, showing the delicate dance of trust-building between human and raptor.
Lowthorpe's direction carefully balances the technical aspects of falconry with the emotional weight of Helen's grief. The film demonstrates how the intense focus required in training a predatory bird can serve as both distraction and therapy, allowing grief to process in its own time while the mind stays occupied with immediate, demanding tasks.
The supporting cast adds depth to Helen's journey, with Lindsay Duncan as her mother and Denise Gough as her supportive friend Christina providing grounding presences as Helen navigates her new reality. Their concerned observations highlight the fine line between healthy coping and potentially destructive obsession.
The story follows Helen (Foy) in the aftermath of her father Alisdair MacDonald's death, portrayed warmly by Brendan Gleeson in flashbacks. Rather than following conventional paths of grieving, Helen turns to an unusual source of comfort: training a goshawk named Mabel. This decision, while seemingly eccentric, becomes a profound journey of healing and self-discovery.
The film excels in its visual portrayal of the falconry process, with cinematographer Mark Payne-Gill capturing breathtaking footage of the magnificent predator in action. The intimate moments between Foy and the bird (played by two different goshawks) create some of the most mesmerizing sequences in recent cinema, showing the delicate dance of trust-building between human and raptor.
Lowthorpe's direction carefully balances the technical aspects of falconry with the emotional weight of Helen's grief. The film demonstrates how the intense focus required in training a predatory bird can serve as both distraction and therapy, allowing grief to process in its own time while the mind stays occupied with immediate, demanding tasks.
The supporting cast adds depth to Helen's journey, with Lindsay Duncan as her mother and Denise Gough as her supportive friend Christina providing grounding presences as Helen navigates her new reality. Their concerned observations highlight the fine line between healthy coping and potentially destructive obsession.