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 Unfortunately, there is an overuse of fades that today are quite outdated and dare I say slightly cheesy.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.
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.