THE HAWK
UK, 1993, 88 minutes, Colour.
Helen Mirren, George Costigan, Rosemary Leach, Owen Teale, Melanie Hill.
Directed by David Hayman.
The Hawk is a brief murder mystery. However, it is seen through the eyes of a housewife who suspects her husband to be the killer. She has a history of mental breakdown and is unsure of herself - and the police query her evidence. There are some twists throughout the film, but it is a slice of English life presented as a murder mystery. Helen Mirren gives a very strong performance as the wife. Character actor George Costigan is her husband.
The film was directed by British actor and producer David Hayman.
1.An interesting murder mystery? Variation on a theme?
2.The British setting, the town, homes, the countryside? Freeways? The musical score?
3.The title, the police and media nickname for the murderer?
4.The prologue, the woman in the rain with her children, the car breaking down, trying to make a phone call? Her murder?
5.The focus on the Marsh family? Annie, loving mother, her nerves on edge, her relationship with Stephen? The arrival of his mother and brother? The celebration? The barbeque and her nerviness? Her apology?
6.The portrait of Annie, the revelation about her background in the institution, her phone call to find the doctor? Her being on edge? Her love for her husband, children? Yet upset with them? Her being upset with Ken? Her friendship with Norma? Stephen and Annie going out with Norma and her friend, Stephen getting drunk, the embarrassment? Her being upset? Her talking with Norma, sharing experiences? Her going to the pub with Stephen, seeing Ken, talking with Jacquie? Overhearing words and being suspicious? Her reading that Jacquie had been murdered? The newspaper in Stephen's things? The issue of the missing hammer? Ken returning it? Her going to the police, her relief when Stephen was at the child's birthday party? Her later realisation that it was postponed? Her going to the police, the confrontation? At home, the knife, her killing Stephen? On release, bail, getting in the car, with Norma, racing the police? The confrontation with Ken? The information about the car, its being crushed - and her disappointment? Discovering the tyre? The truth about Stephen? Her being vindicated, reunited with her children?
7. Stephen, his work, away from home, seemingly normal? His drinking? Relationship with his brother, his mother? Going to the pub, getting drunk? The meal? Growing suspicions? Audience suspicion or not? Annie's mental condition? His being ousted from the house after his trying to throttle his wife? His coming to plead with her? Her killing him?
8.Stephen's mother, devotion to her son, the visits? Ken, his behaviour, suspicions, the truth about the cars?
9.Norma, her life, picking up the children, confiding in Annie, the meal? Supporting her at the end? Her fear in the car?
10.Annie taking the children away on the holiday, away from their father, his coming to visit? The children, their sense of security, love for their mother, talking with Norma's daughter?
11.The police, listening, suspicions, investigation? Interrogations?
12.The popular ingredients of a murder mystery?
