Fly Away Home (1996)

Fly Away Home (1996)

"Amy, it's Dad.”

"Dad? Wh-why are you here?”

“I came down from Canada… I've come to take you home."

"Where's Mom?.. Tell me…? Mom died, didn't she?”
-Fly Away Home (1996)

It may come as a surprise, given the tragedy of its opening moments. But Fly Away Home, is a tremendous accomplishment in its conveyance meaning in the realm of fatherhood, and the purpose of the second chance. This film is a microcosm of wildlife intertwined with the complexities of human nature. In a phrase, Fly Away Home demonstrates the innate imprinting of parental love, through the lens of orphaned migrating geese. Fly Away Home exuberantly accomplishes this migratory mission with heartfelt impact and joyous resonance, even in the midst a loss and regret.
However, the tragedy of loss does not negatively define Amy and Thomas Alden's relationship. Instead, it enriches it to a wonderfully poignant degree. This father daughter team finds connection in the very relationship that they both unexpectedly lost. For all its naturalistic splendor, at its core, Fly Away Home is a story of a broken family finally coming together after years of separation and misunderstanding. A family rebuilt in the most unlikely of ways. Amy finds the mother she lost in the geese she lovingly adopts, and Thomas finds the wife he had forgotten in the daughter he has now found.
So, Fly Away Home soars as a cinematic endeavor of love and connection. A connection enriched all the more by its juxtaposition with the protection of wildlife, and the need for bonds with the nature of this plant, on which we reside. Director Carroll Ballard and his team wonderfully encapsulate the power of parental nature. All the while, innately revealing to us the capacity of a second chance, and its beautiful ability to truly bring us together for the very first time.

Rated PG for an opening accident scene and some mild language

I found Fly Away Home to be richly entertaining, visually captivating and deeply meaningful. I hope in some way you do too.

Fun Facts about Fly Away Home

Actress Anna Paquin, who plays Amy in Fly Away Home, is the second youngest person to win an Academy Award for acting. She won it at the age of 11. Although, her winning performance in the 1993 film The Piano, Rated R, is not a film suitable for younger audiences by any means. Instead, that honor goes to the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award, Tatum O'Neil. She won her Academy Award at the age of 10. Performing alongside her father Ryan O'Neal in the 1973 film Paper Moon, Rated PG.

Fly Away Home is not a slouch behind the camera either, being helmed by Academy award nominated director Carroll Ballard. He was nominated for the 1967 documentary short film, Harvest. Fly Away Home was also lensed by six time Academy Award nominated cinematographer, Caleb Deschanel. Deschanel’s nominations include, but are not limited to, Fly Away Home (1996), The Patriot (2000) and The Passion of The Christ (2004). Caleb Deschanel was also the cinematographer for 1979's The Black Stallion. A film which Carroll Ballard directed as well.

In the spirit of Fly Away Home, here's a fatherly fact that you may not know. Caleb Deschanel has the parental honor of being the father of Emily and Zooey Deschanel. Both of whom are well respected actresses in their own right.

Fly Away Home can be purchased or rented on any digital video streaming service, such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Fandango at Home. It is also available to buy physically on DVD and Blu-ray disc. To view physical purchase option: Click Here


Fly Away Home Trailer:



If you're interested, here's the trailer for Paper Moon as well:


Paper Moon (1973) can be purchased or rented on any digital video streaming service, such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Fandango at Home. It is also available to buy physically on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD disc. The Blu-ray and 4K discs of Paper Moon are available through The Criterion Collection. The DVD of Paper Moon can be purchased on Amazon. To view The Criterion Collection purchase options: Click Here

The Black Stallion (1979) is also available on DVD and Blu-ray, through The Criterion Collection. To view purchasing options: Click Here

If you wish to explore over 180 film reviews and multimedia essays, my blog archive can be found at this link: Hour 21

Thanks for Reading

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