Other Titles • Fly Away Home • Father Goose (1996) • Flying Wild (1996)
Synopses for Fly Away Home (1996)
1.
There are some filmmaking teams that invariably bring out the best in each other, and that's definitely the case with director Carroll Ballard and cinematographer Caleb Deschanel. They previously collaborated on The Black Stallion and Never Cry Wolf, and Fly Away Home is their third family film that deserves to be called a classic. Inspired by Bill Lishman's autobiography, the movie tells the story of a 13-year-old girl (Anna Paquin) who goes to live with her estranged, eccentric father (Jeff Daniels) following the death of her mother. At first she's withdrawn and reclusive, but finds renewed happiness when she adopts an orphaned flock of baby geese and, later, teaches them to migrate using an ultralight. Sensitively directed and stunningly photographed, the movie has flying sequences that are nothing short of astonishing, and Daniels and Paquin (Oscar winner for The Piano) make a delightful father-daughter duo. --Jeff Shannon
DVD features It would be enough to recommend this special edition just for the widescreen treatment this family favorite finally receives. But for those who are interested in the real science behind the film--the prospect of humans leading migratory birds--this DVD delivers the goods. There is a new 16-minute feature outlining the experiments conducted by Bill Lishman that were the foundation of the film. Want more? The disc also has Lishman's own hour-long, folksy chronicle of his venture with the birds. Director Carroll Ballard invites his cinematographer Caleb Deschanel to participate on his commentary track, a smart move since the DP helps draw out the director. On another track, composer Mark Isham talks about his score, which can be heard on the isolated track. Unfortunately, Isham talks over some key music, including the effective song that opens and closes the picture. It's still a nice way to hear the music that was never offered on a CD soundtrack. --Doug Thomas
2.
Carroll Ballard returns to the form of his earlier classics THE BLACK STALLION and NEVER CRY WOLF with this inspiring family drama about the human spirit’s ability to tame and conquer nature. In Canada, 13-year-old Amy Alden (Anna Paquin) is having difficulty coping with her mother's recent death. Making matters worse is that she is now forced to move in with her eccentric father, Thomas (Jeff Bridges). But everything changes when 12 orphan goslings hatch, and Amy becomes their surrogate mother. Amy and the birds instantly bond, their relationship aiding the young girl's emotional state. However, the geese grow up fast, and Amy realizes that they must be sent out on their own. With the help of her father, Amy devises a preposterous plan to force the birds to migrate south, overcoming insurmountable odds--both human and natural--in the process. Ballard’s film, based on Bill Lishman’s autobiography, is a heartfelt, moving drama that is universal in its themes of love, hope, and determination. Paquin delivers another solid performance as Amy, proving her Oscar for THE PIANO was no fluke. What lifts FLY AWAY HOME to another plateau, however, is Caleb Deschanel’s splendid cinematography, which captures the gorgeous landscape in a way that makes Amy’s final journey even more miraculous.
3.
A family of orphaned geese who lost their way. A 14 year old kid who will lead them home. To achieve the incredible, you have to attempt the impossible.
The soaring adventure of a 13-year-old girl and her estranged father who learn what family is all about when they adopt an orphaned flock of geese and teach them to fly!
4.
The soaring adventure of a 13-year-old girl and her estranged father who learn what family is all about when they adopt an orphaned flock of geese and teach them to fly!
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