The Hawk Is Dying

In the quiet outskirts of Gainesville, Florida, an everyday world of grease‑stained workshops and suburban routine hides a deeper yearning for something untamed. George Gattling runs University Custom Auto Shop, a place where engines roar and the scent of leather fills the air, yet inside him a restless silence grows louder with each passing day. His life feels stitched together with obligations—family expectations, a fractured marriage, and the slow grind of an existence that never quite fits his skin.

The film paints this everyday setting with a lyrical, almost meditative tone, allowing the viewer to sense the texture of late‑night streets, the glow of pre‑dawn fields, and the quiet ache of unspoken dreams. Against this backdrop, George’s relationship with his sister Precious and her son Fred provides a fragile but essential tether. Precious, navigating her own divorce, leans on George’s steadiness, while Fred, an autistic young man with a quiet intensity, shares a surprisingly tender bond with him through a mutual fascination for birds of prey.

When a wild red‑tailed hawk appears, it becomes more than a creature of feather and talon; it turns into a mirror for George’s inner turmoil. The promise of training the bird offers a seductive glimpse of control, purpose, and a chance to break free from the weight of his responsibilities. The pursuit is presented with a stark, almost reverent reverie—sunrise chases, the hush of open fields, the electric tension between human and nature that teeters between reverence and obsession.

Observing from the margins is Betty, a psychology student who works at the shop and watches George’s quiet storm with both curiosity and empathy. Her perspective adds a subtle, intellectual layer, hinting that George’s quest may be as much about confronting internal shadows as it is about mastering a creature. The film lingers in this charged atmosphere, inviting the audience to wonder how far one will go when the line between survival and surrender blurs.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 09:42