Hawk (2011) User Reviews

Let down by a couple of aspects but definitely worth seeing

[abisymons · 7/10 · 12 June 2011]

Hawk has many aspects that are powerful, and more that have potential to be powerful, but my feeling towards the content was predominantly confusion. Although it featured some beautiful landscape and a wonderfully soaring score, the film didn't quite seem to do justice to the wonderful idea at its heart. It felt like it should be a lyrical tale of folklore, a mystical underworld land and one boy's journey into understanding the spiritual worlds of nature and beyond human kind, but didn't quite seem to make it.

The tale is told so much in voice-over from the protagonist Rowan, and there are choppy time jumps so often that it loses the linear narrative and breaks up the genuinely touching relationship between a boy – Rowan - and his grandfather. The way the mystical world is portrayed is tense and at times effectively scary, shown in flashes as the character sees it. This is well done, but I wasn't entirely sure why they'd left the world of humans in the first place and as a result of not knowing what was at stake or their reasons for leaving, I didn't care as much about them as I wanted to.

The way to access this world appears to be through drinking magic mushroom tea. Although at first I was sceptical of an old man getting high while looking after his grandson, it became clear that this was a gateway to a more meaningful world. The dialogue is mostly good, but at times teeters rather too close to the edge of being trite and there were some things I'd prefer to have seen happening rather than been told.

The film really came together at the end, where all is revealed quite beautifully and I really felt for Rowan. The point becomes clear through the moral message and the strongest part of this film is the last ten minutes where the pace picked up, I understood the situation Rowan had found himself in and could empathise with it, and it felt like for the first time, there really was something at stake.

Although I feel that the film was let down slightly by the script and the choice to have a narrator, the idea behind this film is very strong, the images are powerful, the music is wonderful and the end is moving. Hawk is definitely worth watching.

More than an ordinary short film...

[grainne-493-508649 · 8/10 · 4 October 2012]

For a short film, Hawk is impressive on a large scale. Vast, dramatic landscapes are the setting for an complex story of an old man and a young boy. The old man has rejected the new ways of Christianity in favour of a shamanistic lifestyle and teaches the boy to respect and worship nature.

The film is visually stunning, and the sound design is massive. Each scene is framed in awe-inspiring backdrop that is graded to give a moody, ominous tone to each scene. The camera work is at its strongest in its super wide landscapes and minute, visceral close-ups. The score is responsive to the story and adds to the darkness of the film.

The folklore is told interestingly through stories told by the old man, and they are echoed by the narrative which often references them. As the line between reality and mythology becomes more blurred, we get a sense of this through the narrative. The special effects are impressive, as they also seem to blur this line. They are subtle enough to confuse the viewer of what is real and what is not.

This is a very strong film which is firstly ambitious and beautiful to look at. The script which has its own philosophical depth and intrigue, fights with the visuals for the audience's attention and may just be overpowered. Hawk, overall, is entertaining on all levels and engages the senses in a way other short films won't.

Over-all, a stunning watch.

[josh-smart · 7/10 · 4 July 2011]

'Hawk', a surprisingly dark tale ultimately about survival, sacrifice and loss is a very enjoyable piece of film. Reminiscent of a Tolkien world, the North Wales portrayed in the feature seems like an entirely different plane of existence, allowing the audience to get lost in a fantastical new world. The stunning backdrop accompanied by the great score are two key factors as to why this film is a joy to watch.

The narrative, for the most part, is quite captivating. Gawain mentors young Rowan, where he is also mentoring the audience, truly drawing us in and immersing us, whilst giving us all the information we need to know about this land. Fastforwarding to the end sequence, the build up and the payoff is extremely tense and very exciting to watch.

However, there was one transition that slightly hindered the film somewhat, which is the change from young Rowan to old.

A great deal of the film is dedicated to Gawain mentoring young Rowan, time in which we get to know these protagonists fairly well. In transition, the now adult Rowan, seems to retain little if any of his previous characteristics, thus feeling more like a new character, a stranger. The payoff, whilst powerful, would have been a greater spectacle if we knew this character more or saw something recognisable within him.

That being said, to reiterate, the end sequence makes for some real compelling viewing either way. The Adult Rowan made a great hero - It was a shame we couldn't see more of Rowan as the master hunter/survivalist he had become, but always leave 'em wanting more is the phrase that comes to mind.

'Hawk' is a visually stunning piece of film and a pleasure to watch.

7.5/10

A stunning mystical production

[kaitlinmccoo · 7/10 · 11 February 2022]

Hawk is a dramatic short fantasy film written by Alex McArdell and M J McMahon that delves into the classic storyline of an internal struggle with good and evil. The battle is showcased using the main character Rowan who is brilliantly played by both Robert Gwyn Davin and Steffan Thomas at different stages of the characters life.

The story is set in stunning mystical Welsh landscapes, creating an extremely dramatic backdrop for this suspenseful short fantasy film. The dramatic wide shots of the eery hills with perfectly pairing sinister music creates an intense viewing for the audience.

The film explores traditional folklore with Rowan and his father Gawain at the forefront. It is obvious to the viewer that Gawain cares deeply for his son and wants to give him the best possible chance of survival in the wilderness. This naturally makes the viewer emotionally connected to the characters and creates an interest in the story that is about to unfold.

The pace of the film was rather slow, focusing more on dramatic drawn out shots rather than plot or character explanation. Although this is typical of the fantasy form, it definitely was not an easy storyline to follow considering that it was such a short production. However, I believe this also played in to the films overall mystical feel.

Beautifully Visual Short

[MwabaNgwisha · 7/10 · 11 November 2015]

Hawk is a mythical tale of a boy, Rowan, who is removed from the world of man and due to tragedy must make his way through life alone. The film attempts to tackle immense themes, ideas of morality and the human psyche, natural order and man's relationship with nature. Although there is certainly potential for these grand themes to be developed, the films length prohibits it from expressing all it clearly wants to.

Hawk is an extremely beautiful visual piece of cinema. The cinematography and location choices are outstanding. Stunning scenic shots and numerous visuals of the sky and the clouds, perfectly coloured, are what stand out after watching this short. The dream like sequence comprising of, blurred images of the forest, crisp depictions of Rowan's 'crime' and the dark silhouette of the ominous Antlered God result in a distressing but arresting scene. The use of wonderful use of cinematic techniques and colour – the vivid colour in close ups of the Hawk are resounding – as well as a the intricate set, prop and costume design are real triumphs.

Although the film is delivered through superb visuals, I did not feel I was drawn to Rowan as a character. Jumps in the narrative resulted in a lack of connection with the character; we miss Rowan and his Hawk fostering a relationship, and lack an understanding of the intensity of his relationship with the Antlered God who is integral to the films climax. However, these are elements of the film the audience can conjure up for themselves. Although I felt Rowan's grief and burden of being trapped between fantasy and reality, my lack of feeling for him took away from what could be an extremely emotive ending to the film.

Regardless, Hawk is an extremely good watch. The story told is engaging, steeped in mysticism with classic features of a cautionary tale that make it accessible to a diverse audience. Hawk's haunting score and magnificent visuals transcend this film from a Fantasy short, to something much more memorable.

Epic Celtic fantasy, beautifully shot with quality performances and profound themes that resonate today

[tommcoles-66948 · 9/10 · 9 April 2018]

This fantasy story of Celtic folklore and mythical gods is set in a barren world which pits man against nature. Hawk features some incredibly striking visuals right from the start and the wild Snowdonian landscape is captured with great skill by cinematographer Martin Hill. The visuals continue to deliver impact as the film proceeds with some stunning wildlife photography.

But where some short films deliver solely on visuals but lack story Hawk is equally strong in delivering both. The plot can feel a little sparse at time, requiring a bit of work from the audience to understand what is happening, but this is part of why this film works so well for me. It forces you to lean into the film, working at it to understand the complex folklore that has been shared for generations and the effect it has on the characters.

I came away with a sense that I had genuinely been on a journey with the lead character of Rowan. This is in part due to the quality casting with performances that are perfectly pitched. But it is also due to the breadth of backstory delivered subtly in voiceover and matched by very clear visuals that enhanced the storytelling. There is also a genuine chemistry between Rowan and his father Gawain which lead me to quickly invest in the characters.

The lush and epic score composed by Stuart Hancock, featuring stunning vocals from the Serendipity Choir with sweeping orchestral accompaniments add a whole other dimension and authenticity to this film and are a key part of why it is so effective.

It is rare to see a short film attempt such an epic story, especially while maintaining such high production values and for that this film should be congratulated.

Hawk is also a timely allegory for how man should respect nature and not abuse it. There is a natural order to the world, and messing with that has consequences, which Rowan learns for himself.

There is a darkness to this film. When we learn that there is civilisation beyond the wilderness it made me question why Rowan and Gawain are living in the wild. Were they outcasts? Had Gawain taken his son away from his mother? These are the sort of question that remain once the films ends, and while I had several such questions it was refreshing for a film to leave a lasting impact and I felt, in part, that these unanswered questions were intentional and effective.

If you have 40 minutes, check this film out. It's got everything you'd expect from a high budget feature while addressing some timely themes. It is class filmmaking with some interesting performances that won't disappoint. A couple of the overlaying techniques feel a tad dated but on the whole this is a timeless film with quality visuals, performances and soundtrack.

Interesting watch for those who like fantasy

[francescablakeburn · 6/10 · 17 May 2021]

*SPOILER ALERT*

What happens when we upset the God given balance of nature?

Well, Hawk is a cleverly constructed film that could be seen as a metaphor for the impact humans have upon the planet, mother nature being on par with the Antlet God and the end result - paying the deadly price. If you are unopposed to scenic shots of Snowdonia and a fantasy narrative to accompany, this is a film for you.

The symbol of the Hawk throughout the narrative is a powerful reminder of its meaning in the spiritual world, in which a Hawk sighting represents the need to expand one's knowledge and learn important lessons. It could very well be that in Gawain's death, the man of light was born again into the remaining hawk nestling, there to expand Rowan's knowledge on the world and serve as a companion.

This film beautifully portrays the connection between Rowan and the Hawk. Through the captivating close ups and elegant views of the woodland, cinematographer Martin Hill captures the true magnificence of their relationship and the way they communicate. Think Merlin intertwined with Game of Thrones.

It is evident that the hawk has taught him valuable lessons in life, and from these teachings, it can be seen that Rowan reaches a higher level of understanding when faced with a difficult decision. Writers M J McMahon and Alex McArdell have done a brilliant job in developing the character of Rowan from a boy to a man. Narratively speaking, the story can come across as confusing and a shift in the order of events could have made the viewing easier to follow, however if you are someone who likes to find a deeper meaning and go on the journey with the characters, then the writers have done their job well.

The film delivers a message to the audience of the need to sacrifice in order to obtain balance, something that is relative to the world today in terms of the devastating effects of climate change. All in all an exciting watch and a definite recommendation to those who enjoy fantasy and adventure.

Beautiful Short Film

[mrjamiejones176335 · 10/10 · 10 October 2012]

Fantastic short film, really epic and brave...nice to see such beautiful imagery in a short film. This short is based on old Welsh mythology and is the tale of a young boy and his grandfather living in the wild. The grandfather is played by the late Philip Madoc a wonderful Welsh actor. The thing that is really intriguing about this short story is the ambiguity of the world the boy perceives and how this affects him as a man. Its obvious the film-makers behind this have a bright future.

If you are up for a different thought provoking short film then this one is for you.

Feels like more than a short film

[directedbyalexmill · 7/10 · 13 September 2015]

The visuals are truly stealing the show, the cinematography and VFX are gorgeous, much like the production design and makeup. The orchestral music and the sound design emphasises the epic feel, which is unusually well-achieved for a short film.

The only thing I was missing is a "second act", the part which would elaborate what the main character, Rowan had been doing with his knowledge of a magical world beyond our regular one. How did he use this connection and how did he come to his realisation at the end. I was missing a journey which would show how Rowan got to experience his grandfather's wisdom about interconnected lives and nature as a living thing. The message of the story is powerful but it is tightly wrapped in symbols; Rowan's choice of reality over the magical world would come across more powerfully if we would have gotten a more detailed introduction to the spirit world and its rules.

The film is definitely worth watching though as it's a great achievement for 40 minutes!

It's definitely different

[qaysnsanja · 5/10 · 14 May 2021]

A lot of work was put into creating the world shown in 'Hawk'. The cinematography and locations are used perfectly to convey how the contrast of pure nature and darkness fits the film's hybrid Fantasy - Horror elements. The green of the scenery stands out beautifully against the dark imagery of haunted Forrests and a misty colour pallets that captures the dread that makes this world (the bright yellow beaks of the hawks was a particularly nice touch in this fitting blended contrast of shades). I would also say that 'Hawk' immediately struck me as a great blend of vastly different mediums of iconic fantasy like Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones as the film is clearly not the type of fantasy you grew up watching as a kid and the use of narration (also a great narrative technique to help the audience understand that Rowan's telling the story from childhood to adulthood) is fairytale like in its world building respectively.

However, I didn't connect with Rowan's character and the journey he goes through during this narrative. While a slow paced build up is a great way to ease us into the narrative, I felt the story meandered a lot despite the film's best efforts to illustrate how strong Rowan's bond with Tide and how the latter's death impacts him into adulthood. As well as this, I had a hard time keeping up with what was going on, too much is thrown into the history of this world and the presentation of the Gods was very vague (another reviewer said that the mythology shown is apparently Celtic so having that element be clearer in the characters' costumes would have been much appreciated). I felt a shorter first half would have served the narrative better by simply focusing on easing us into this very detailed world and giving the characters' stronger personalities as compensation for the short amount of time that we see them.

Then again fantasy isn't my cup of tea but that often is the reality for many audiences so maybe dumbing things down a bit (whilst not completely sacrificing the originality of the story) would have improved the experience for me as an audience member as there are some really great ideas in 'Hawk' like the alluding to Christianity, which is the dominant religion in our reality, to contrast the intimate and almost timeless world inhabited by many Gods.

Hawk-> A Short Film of Epic Proportions!

[speakwithculturekid · 9/10 · 14 November 2011]

Following the legacy of fantasy films, Hawk portrays the coming-of-age tale of Rowan, who is raised by his grandfather (Gawain) in the wild hills of Snowdonia. Rowan has been taught from a young age to dismiss the modern world of humans in favor of an almost shamanic lifestyle, using the knowledge that has been offered to him from nature and from his ancestors. When Rowan disturbs the peace and balance of his environment, he has to pay the price in order to restore the natural order of things. The story plays with some very interesting ideas, some of which are particularly difficult to be translated visually unto film. The world Hawk aims to portray is one that operates on many levels. Deities and spirits from a supernatural realm appear to intervene in the natural world for the purpose of maintaining balance. Personally, I found the script maintained an underlying theme of 'origin and roots', which i think manifested itself into most of the elements that constitute this film. The film taps into Welsh culture, bringing in elements of mythology and folklore. The epic scenery of Wales is almost a character itself in Hawk since settings such as forests, meadows and caves are all integral to the script. Moreover, many Welsh artists were involved in the production, including the cast, musicians and crew. This helped Hawk define itself as a British film despite it's obvious references to foreign productions like Lord of the Rings or Pan's labyrinth. The cinematography and the visual effects in Hawk are of a very high standard. The color palette is so strong that it's possible for the spectator to get confused about whether what he is watching has been artificially created or not. I personally enjoyed the 'look' of Hawk, which i found fused the aesthetics of a mystical, otherworldly environment with the elements of a stylized, fantasy video-game. It is evident that Hawk is the result of a lot of hard work, coming from a lot of talented people. The film stands out as a British fantasy film and is a great contribution to the body of work surrounding the genre. Hawk is a short film of epic proportions.

Breathtaking, ambitious and bold.

[jameselwin · 7/10 · 1 December 2019]

Hawk is an extremely ambitious fantasy film that at its heart has a simple and recognisable story of the internal struggle of good versus bad, told on a grand, epic and audacious scale. The technical elements of this film are a real triumph, with the cinematography and score taking at points precedence over the transparency of the bold but convoluted plot. Set in the mesmerising mountains of Snowdonia and encompassing rarely featured Welsh language and locale, this film offers a bold and original take on the fantasy genre and achieves an admirable and commendable final product.

Immediately the viewer can appreciate the cinematography. The film opens with a striking wide shot of adult Rowan (Robert Gwyn Davin), set against a bleak and enraged Snowdonia horizon, as aerial shots of the majestic Snowdonia mountain range perfectly set the fantastical scene. With limited dialogue throughout, the challenge is set for director of photography, Martin Hill, to guide you on this journey, which, along with Stuart Hancock's score, is expertly navigated and are both a real highlight of the film. The original classical score from start to finish is intensely scintillating and is easily a one of the strongest components of the film that imbeds itself into your unconscious long after the film has finished.

Where the cinematography, location and score leave you wanting more, a particularly difficult aspect to navigate was the conceivably intentionally-illusive plot. Though of course ambiguity is at this fantasy films heart, it felt at points that it left the audience with too much work to do and at times felt like crucial plot points were omitted or not emphasised on enough. Furthermore, much of the film anchors itself between the relationship between the well-delivered performance of Gawain (Philip Madoc) and young Rowan (Steffan Thomas). However, at points this relationship was difficult to invest in and get behind, resulting in depleted levels of character empathy and insight that were, specifically in Rowan's case, needed later in the film. That being said, many elements of the story really stood out and persisted. Rowan's internal battle between good and bad was plain to see and was well delivered by Robert Gwyn Davin in the final third of the film. The theme of taking only what you need from the land and treating nature with respect resonated particularly well and some nine years after its release, and is arguably more imperative and relevant now, than it ever was.

Undeniably, to deliver a mythic, fantasy film is no easy feat but to deliver one that is original, daring and restricted to a short film and independent budget is an almighty task. Hawk is as close to the finished article as you will find. One can only commend director M. J. McMahon for his ambition for the scale and size of this project, and through captivating cinematography, an astonishing score and a highly original and ambitious plot, Hawk achieves a great deal.

A short film that aims high

[mmarczewski · 1/10 · 15 June 2011]

The opening shot of Rowan and the hawk on the edge of a huge overhanging rock creates a very striking opening image. Which is followed by a long flying shot of the bird that launches us straight into the vast scale of Hawk.

This visual awe resonates throughout the film. Every shot has a grand and dramatic feel, and each is beautifully constructed. The mountains of Snowdonia are the perfect location for a Middle Earth feel. The 'Antlered God' has strong vibes of the Faun from Pan's Labyrinth, especially during the forest scene when he appears before the young Rowan. It has a slow rumbling pace, for short film it carries a lot of weight and grandeur that sometimes has the feel of the bigger budget of a feature film.

The story isn't incredibly compelling, although it does have an original take on the fantasy genre, but I was more engaged with the visuals. The film makes great use of visual effects and CG that are never over emphasised and don't overpower the look of the film. The 'making of' production dairies available on Capture's youtube channel provide a great insight into the production of the film. The effects are sometimes quite subtle, I probably wouldn't have even noticed that some parts of the film used CG if it was not for watching several of these prior to the film, for the effects are so perfectly blended with the live action.

Hawk is a short film that aims high and thinks big.

Never work with animals (and incredible scenery) - they might steal the show

[lee_h_99 · 7/10 · 30 January 2013]

The performance of Robert Gwyn Davin in the final stages of 'Hawk' is powerful and yet not quite supported strongly enough by the rest of the film. I care, but I feel I could care more.

The location and the cinematography ensure that the film is consistently visually stunning; creating a sense of otherworldliness that provides a powerful foundation for the action. This combined with the excellent score and the characters' mellifluous Welsh accents, works to provide the entire piece with a strong ethereal quality.

For me, other than the extraordinary aesthetic of the film, its other greatest triumph is the animals. Generally when animals are not just on screen but actually directly contribute to the narrative, it can feel very forced. Instead of it making things feel more real, all I begin to imagine is the animal's handler jumping up and down behind the camera whilst trying to reassure the director that Rover can indeed portray grief. Essentially animals often hinder films by making the audience feel more conscious of the work that is going into telling the story rather than the story itself, and at this point all illusion is lost. However, In this film the hawks are obviously key to the narrative, but actually do much more than simply allow the plot progress. Every movement of each animal and particularly the hawks feels natural, and this provides an integral link between reality and fantasy.

Paradoxically it's often when the audience is unconscious of the filmmaker's touch that they are doing their best work. What is remarkable about 'Hawk' is the delicate way in special effects and shot choice have been deeply thought about and brilliantly implemented, making the natural landscape infinitely more vivid and full of possibility. Just as with the inclusion of the different animals everything feels cohesive and natural but at the same time wonderfully enchanted.

In regards to the story my overriding sense is that what is being told is simply too grand for the 39 minutes it is allowed. Certain shots feel rushed which makes it seem as though the plot progression is too quick to properly do the story justice. It battles with other elements of the film that are particularly strong and simply cannot compete. However this is all that is lost in a film that is visually stunning as well as engaging.

A short that just misses the mark but nonetheless has a lot to offer - awe inspiring visuals, a beautiful score and an intricate concept

[t-sun-12195 · 7/10 · 28 June 2018]

I was torn on what to make of this film, the concept is captivating and sophisticated, however, its message was not translated as it could have been. It does not convey Rowan's quest into adulthood amidst this mythical, fabled and secret world with the justice it deserves. I did not find myself as absorbed by the film as I hoped to be.

The scenes after the Grandfather's death require the audience to pay close attention to the film. Some may consider this a good attribute, but the extent of the effort required to do so meant I found it to be counterproductive, a bit tiresome and distracting from being fully immersed in the fantasy world. From trying to unravel the confusing storyline it was harder to appreciate the impressive visuals and epic music performed by the live orchestra. Along with the vocals of the Serendipity Choir, both add a great deal of authenticity to Hawk. They seamlessly tie in with the Welsh landscape that truly lifts the film.

The cinematography is stunning with wide shots of the Welsh mountains, forests and rivers that mirror a hawk's birdseye view. They bring an element of magic and awe and give a true fairytale atmosphere to the picture. Nature is pivotal to every part of the story by appearing as the surrounding environment and as a different realm. The protagonist, Rowan, drinks a hallucinogenic liquid that is like taking the Ayahuasca plant, found in the Amazonian rainforest. This plant is used as part of a learning and healing process, suggesting a similarity to the type of journey that Rowan will undertake. The shots are very Lord of the Rings-esque with unusual religious elements in a story of becoming a man. Unfortunately, there is an overuse of fades that today are quite outdated and dare I say slightly cheesy.

The film challenges what subject matter a short film can cover. The creativity and imagery are exceptional for a short film budget and a small crew size - this became more impressive when discovering how quickly Hawk was produced. It delivers a broad message about the real consequences of sinfully abusing nature. This becomes most relevant for today, since humans are affecting nature like never before, for example through climate change. Hawk, perhaps unintentionally, serves as an incredibly important and harrowing reminder of this point with its own mythical flair.

The lighting redeems some of the negatives. The use of shadowing is most commendable in creating mystery, allure and ambiguity, especially for the antlered god. Given the use of primarily sepia colours and the emphasis on the dark against the light suggests it is symbolic of the battle of right vs wrong and good vs evil that Rowan will undergo.

Hawk purposely leaves a lot of questions unanswered, that to a degree is frustrating but nevertheless, it ensures the film remains in your memory.

Most definitely worth watching.

[megan-breen-894-951691 · 8/10 · 2 August 2016]

Man's relationship with nature has gradually become a controversial issue for the modern world. Where we once saw a future that was bright and exciting, we are now greeted with the cold, harsh truth; we as a species are killing our planet. Hawk captures this beautifully; expressing that in society there is a belief that some things are more important than life itself. While I believe that the film was extremely impressive, I also believe that it was limited to expand on characters and relationships because of its length.

The film immediately begins through Rowan condemning 'men' for their beliefs and values, commenting on what they fail to see; the true beauty of nature. Old Rowan is portrayed as mysterious throughout the film, which prevented the audience from discovering a connection with his character. The narrative jumped between young Rowan and old Rowan suddenly, meaning that the relationship built up with Rowan as a child was lost as there was not a gradual introduction to Rowan growing old. That being said, this also helped the audience to understand that Rowan had lost touch with his human nature, as he surrounds himself with only animals. This made the ending very effective as it is shown that even though Rowan saves the siblings; they do not help him in return, proving that Rowan was ultimately destined to be alone.

Both the visual effects and score were magnificent and played a huge part in helping to create an environment for the audience to get engrossed in. There were very few bright colours used throughout the film, with the exception of Ruth's red cloak, and the flickering flames. Use of these colours left clues for the audience to figure out, the flames suggesting that the tales Gawain spoke of were ones that Rowan should be cautious of, and the red cloak comparing the character of Ruth to Little Red Riding Hood, forcing the audience into hoping she doesn't stray from the path.

Animals used in the film also helped to present to the audience the idea that 'men' will always take on the belief that their lives are more valuable than a creatures. The dog presented this view to the audience, with the connotation of the lead being that the dog is not truly free and that humans are constantly in control of how it lives.

Overall, Hawk is a brilliant piece of cinematography, which will easily leave an audience pondering upon how powerful nature truly is.

Imaginative story, epic cinematography

[katy_barwell · 7/10 · 29 January 2013]

This is the tale of a boy living in the wilderness with his grandfather, and learning the ways of nomad life. He follows his grandfather's teachings, and fervently believes in traditional stories of spirits, until one day the boy finds his grandfather dead in the forest. The boy seeks solace in a potion of magic mushrooms and becomes entranced. In a daze of hallucinations he panics and commits an ungodly act, upturning the natural balance of nature. He is now forever in the debt of an eerie God. Or is he?

This unusual tale lies on the boundary between reality and the sublime. Stunning cinematography, seamless visual effects and colourist skills, help to bring out the emotion and create atmosphere in the film with the aid of an intense and powerful choral soundtrack.

Parts of this film felt a little rushed or unclear, which is a shame, because it could easily be a really fantastic piece. I feel that more work could have been done to develop the characters and clarify the storyline, which left me a little confused in places. The acting skills also tended to be a little over the top, in contrast to the beautiful realism of the visual effects.

Overall, I feel the technical skill displayed in the film made up for its flaws, and meant I could enjoy the piece based on its creativity.

Complex but compulsive

[tom-porcovolente · 8/10 · 19 August 2013]

For a film that lasts no longer than forty minutes Hawk is a rather interesting and deeply emotional story which is very enjoyable to watch. The film focuses on the life and story of a young boy - Rowan - who must make amends for the mistakes he has made. The film deals with some very complex ideas and these are highlighted through various mediums during the film.

One outstanding feature of the film is the use of visual effects and transitions which allow an ordinary forest to be transformed into a realm of myths, gods and powerful natural forces. The lighting is also used and set up such that there is an ominous sense of foreboding which is present throughout the film; this allows viewers to engage in the film and understand Rowan's fears. Overall the visuals of the film are sapid and highly impressive to watch.

The soundtrack to Hawk is something which must not go unnoticed as it lifts the mood in places and plunges viewers into doubt and worry at others; this has the effect of enthralling the viewer and leading them through the film, and also helps to emphasize key moments very well.

The one major downfall of the film is that the plot can often get very choppy and confusing which meant I wondered what was going on at certain points, the use of flashbacks and flash-forwards is effective but can also leave viewers slightly perplexed during a considerable amount of the film. The script is good and the use of a narrator allows some clarity as to what is going on however there are a couple of points where it becomes slightly cliché and it would've been better to have watched the proceedings rather than have them narrated to us. Nonetheless as the film progresses it becomes ever more apparent why we were shown the various time shifts and by the end of the film everything is cleared up and understandable.

The camera work allows for confusion and pandemonium to thrive and we are able to see the events unfold through the eves of the protagonist which aids to our understanding of the story and the reasons for certain actions. The epic landscapes and rolling clouds used as backgrounds are also effective and play greatly on the concept of isolation from the civilized world. We also get a glimpse at some of the emotions in the film and the settings similarly highlight some of the characters feelings very astutely.

Overall Hawk is a very enjoyable film, combining fantasy and mystery with a story of growth and loss; although it can be quite confusing at points, all is explained by the end of the film and so Hawk is definitely worth watching.

A big idea squeezed into a little film.

[TalisaO · 6/10 · 6 October 2014]

A big idea squeezed into a little film, Hawk is a short film that really needed to be much larger to realize the grandness of its narrative. With moments of beautiful cinematography and a sweeping score, there's a lot of promise that's let down by a slow moving storyline that never quite crosses the finish line. Set in the rolling hills and towering forests of a mythical land, the film centers on a young man's journey through the harsh dualities of the world he exists within. Wrapped in mysticism and folklore, the film bites off a little more than it can chew with an epic journey that often feels more like a pastiche of moments.

Rowan, the protagonist, starts off as a bright-eyed young boy in the care of his grandfather, Gawain. It's never quite clear as to what they're in pursuit of, despite the viewer spending a lot of time with them at the start of the film. This holds true for a lot of sequences that follow. The mysticism that Gawain indulges in and teaches Rowan is never really explored enough for us to grasp its relevance, in spite of the fact that the film hinges on understanding the importance of its existence in Rowan's world. The cinematic visuals are alluring and provide the grandiose atmosphere required but are lost to the rushed storytelling at vital parts of the film.

Overall, the story feels condensed and, as a viewer, you're constantly trying to fill in the gaps. The promise of the story is what brings you to the film and the cinematography and score keep you engaged but the story is never done justice. If ever there was a candidate for a feature film re-telling, this would be it.

Bigger and more epic than the sum of its parts.

[leoface-05583 · 8/10 · 8 November 2018]

This short stands out amongst Capture's short films as a more ambitious cinematic endeavour, which leaves the real world far behind. Hawk succeeds in seeming to be much higher in production value than it probably is - clever use of drone shots and VFX to create a hawk's eye view of the craggy landscape give the film an epic scale from start to finish. Indeed the way DoP Martin Hill shoots the landscape is shot is a key strength of the film. It is packed with static shots that frame the cliffs and sky very nicely - and the use of the sky different times of day (including some beautiful magic-hour twilight scenes) keeps the lighting varied and interesting. Production Design is also another element that adds value to and richness to the world of Hawk. The shelters, tea boiling bags, drinking horns, leathered and feathered costumes. These work especially well because Rowan and his father would have had to make these by hand which Production Designer Emma Lo Gatto and her team probably did. All of this brings texture and detail to this story and grounds the characters within it by showing us the instruments and tools with which they live day-to-day The story itself is a real journey - from coming of age survival lessons and camp-fire stories with Rowan's kindly, wizened father, to psilocybin-induced nightmarish visions of Celtic demon-gods, and finally to a poignant moment of self-sacrifice. Despite the relatively small cast, the narrative spans many years and many worlds. What's particularly good is that the story is given space to breathe, and the dialogue does not shoulder the entire burden of exposition - meaning we have to fill in the gaps ourselves. All of these elements combine to make Hawk more than the sum of its parts - a short film that feels more expensive and epic, and has the legs to be adapted into a feature.

A visually stunning, inviting, imaginative world.

[mindbubbles · 7/10 · 6 November 2011]

Hawk is a captivating and visually stunning tale of a young boy's journey to manhood through learning the lesson of morality.

We follow Rowan through his childhood as he is taught about the world around him with stories from his Taid, a mysterious man that seems to know more about the world than he confesses to.

The countryside is shown in dramatic landscapes, with a plethora of green forest and hills. The CGI used on the skies is dramatic and enables the world to fully form as a place of nature; a nomadic reserve full of life.

The CGI throughout the film is wonderfully enriching; each sky and landscape is used to full potential and adds to the atmosphere of the narrative as a whole.

There is a strong focus on Welsh lore, which creates a magical atmosphere. However, it feels somewhat compromised by the lack of background story development; we do not learn fully who the characters are or why they live alone, despite the use of a voice-over.

This creates a distance between the characters and the audience as further understanding is compromised by lack of development.

The story is enticing to watch and the use of the Welsh language is clever and intelligently adds to the dramatic atmosphere.

The musical score works discreetly to add an extra layer of atmosphere to each scene when used, and adds a magical feel to the film as a whole.

Hawk falls in between a short and a feature-length film, and it is pronounced in the way that the narrative is large and substantial enough to be developed further (which would push it into the boundary of the feature-length) and yet it is too rich to be squeezed into the short category.

Hawk is a world of intrigue that is well worth viewing not least for its visual beauty, but more so the interesting story of a world that is highly imaginative and inviting.

Has the potential to be better yet still worth the watch.

[aleks-77145 · 6/10 · 15 May 2021]

Hawk is an dark, eerie, mythological and historical film about a young boy who must come to understand the balance of nature and Gods as he grows. Even though this is a short film it has the potential to feel like a cinema movie or even a series leaving me guessing and wondering where the boy's choices are going to lead him to next.

The relationship between the two main characters are of master and student, the master goes through the days in the wild teaching the young boy survival skills, history about the land and myths about gods. Since the movie is set in the forest you can see that there's a hierarchy and food chain in place along with a sense that something unexpected might happen to the characters. From start to finish the skies kind of determined what the mood of the scene was. E.g. Clear skies meaning it was calm, dark skies meaning something mysterious is going on and thunder skies meaning something suspenseful or dangerous was going on.

The film is narrated by the older version of the young boy who must go through redemption after upsetting a god of the forest. I personally think he was put through a test to see if he learned anything at all or if he was still ignorant which was signified in the first few minutes of the movie. By the end he meets the god of the forest; some would argue that he deserved a better ending or even karma caught up to him but I think it's fair considering the choices he's made.

Great storyline but couldn't stop staring at the costumes as they didn't feel natural.

[savvageorgia · 7/10 · 16 May 2021]

So for starters, I absolutely looooved the storyline and found it quite different. The hallucinations bits are stunning and soo well directed and shot they reminded me Sabrina The Teenage Witch (the netflix version)! The demon in the shadows and mist worked amazingly and potentially better than when we saw the demon from a distance as it kept the mystery going strong.

Also, the scene with the birds crying and starring at him brought soooo much more tension to the story that kind of made us take a trip down memory lane to Hitchcock's Birds and I think that was by far my favourite part as who doesn't appreciate a good reference to Hitchcock?! The short in general had so many gorgeous spots and shots that I just couldn't take my eyes off, thanks to the aerial and tracking shots! Even simple establishing shots such as the one from the inside of the cave looking at the dead body of Gawain and then later of Rowan seemed like a painting.

In the scene with the deer however, when Gawain walks with his stick next to the deer and the stick clashes with the animation of the deer you can kind of feel the animation next to reality a little bit as it feels quite light. And I also kind of felt the same gap within real life, props and animations when Gawain picked up the deer's head as I assume only the head was a prop and the rest of the body cgi? Maybe I wish Gawain struggled a little bit more to pick up the deer's head as deers can be extremely heavy. But the head itself, when in close-up it looked completely realistic and well made!

Lastly, something I was a bit disappointed I think was the costumes as I really could not stop noticing the metallic rings that stop the threads (cannot find online what they're called) around their shoulders and wherever they had laces. I really do not think they had such sewing technologies back then?? Plus I wish the costumes were more distressed and the leather more broken into, as Gawain and Rowan have been living in the wild for years and the materials seemed quite fresh and more like a Halloween costume.

A very bold production but needs a second viewing to grasp

[LNEvans1997 · 8/10 · 1 June 2021]

Hawk is a truly epic film, from the sweeping aerial shots of the stunning landscape, the captivating score, innovative editing and generally bold production. Narratively speaking however, the film definitely takes further viewings to fully comprehend the nature of what is going on, and even then I'm left a little confused.

Director A J Mcmahon does an excellent job of transporting us into this alternate universe from the offset, the grand swilling score and fantastical opening shot creates a world almost immediately and we know we're set for a dramatic fantasy ride.

The harsh realities of life and death are addressed immediately with the Hawk killing the mouse and consistently referred back to in the film. We then hear the advice from Grandfather Gawain to Rowan that 'The gods will be angry if you take her life' referring to the symbolic Hawk, which is only later revealed to have been the case. Lessons of morality, mortality are present throughout, making audiences question particularly by the end, how we address the balance of giving and taking life, what we take for granted and how we treat any and all elements of nature, especially with Gawain stating 'everything is alive' you begin to envision this yourself.

The use of voiceover is very effective in parts, showing that the lessons Gawain taught Rowan, he now wishes to teach and impart on others but I can only feel that that was slightly overused. As a result, the consistent voiceover distracted from the relationship between the two leads, particularly during Gawain's storytelling montage sequence, though brilliantly edited, it would have been effective to see more of this in real time so we could connect to both characters and their bond that bit more. This is so that when Gawain passes, we would genuinely feel Rowan's pain and loss, which I admittedly didn't..

Conversely, It has to be noted that one of the film's richest aspects is Stuart Hancock's glorious score complimented by the evocative choir elements. It really gives that involuntary body response, goosebumps for myself ,due to its grand and exhilarating nature, coinciding with the world Mcmahon has crafted, superbly. Additionally, many technical aspects of the film have been ingrained in my mind, a large amount due to Martin Hills expert cinematography. For instance, the Kurosawa-esque shot in the woods, gazing up at the trees where Gawain spirals into the underworld was pure genius. Additionally, the sweeping shots of the Snowdonian landscape were also stunning, really embedding us in this world and resultant underworld. Though unfortunately due to these being regularly repeated, they began to lose their wow factor and just seemed to be placed in for a quick and seamless scene transition or to convey the time shift, which may have been a slight cop out.

It's a film that makes the audience work, if not paying complete attention, you can miss essential details that will then make the narrative hard to follow. Admittedly, I felt a little lost in the story much likened to Rowan and his grip of fantasy and reality. Therefore, I needed to watch it a second time, at least, to vaguely understand what was happening and even now I'm still not completely there, but perhaps this is a good thing, leaving certain narrative elements up to interpretation.

Brilliant cinematography, intriguing story.

[joefinnreynolds · 7/10 · 6 July 2018]

*SPOILER*

Hawk was a fantasy film that followed the story of Rowan, a boy who wants to kill but he has been told that it angers the God(s) if he takes the life of a human, animal or plant if it isn't necessary. Rowan suffers a great loss when Tide, his Grandfather, died. This causes Rowan to become really upset and he kills a hawk and its babies bar one. He raises this Hawk and with its guidance Rowan chooses what he should do after he discovered another world beneath our own.

I liked the fact that Rowan started off as a boy who didn't know very much and throughout the film he gained knowledge as well as the burdens of his past so he is carrying this big weight of his crimes and it is good that this film starts by adding layers and layers of detail of Rowan and showing his crimes and how he lived his life and then his realisation of what he has done wrong and finally giving in to his crimes and accepting death. This helps us to bring back a sense of nobility for Rowan and we can sympathize with him.

What is good about Hawk is that it has the main plot of Rowan's life but includes this magical fantasy world in which the story takes place. It is good because we can watch the story and interpret what is going on differently but in the end that is good because it isn't very important to have the same views on the magic because the main plot is with Rowan's life and how he will realize his wrongs and finally give in to his crimes, take the punishment and die a peaceful and respectful death.

Overall, I think that Hawk worked really well because the cinematography was aesthetically pleasing and really nice to watch and the story was really intriguing and kept me involved with the plot. My one small issue was that I wasn't sure at times what was happening when it came to the fantasy and magic and I think that if this was made clearer it would be more enjoyable for younger viewers.