Fly Away Home [WS] [Blu-ray]

Director: Carroll Ballard Carroll Ballard

Overview

Inspired by a true story, Fly Away Home is a family drama about Amy Alden (Anna Paquin), a 13-year-old girl who, after the tragic death of her mother, is sent to live with her father Thomas (Jeff Daniels), a sculptor. Amy misses her mother and has never enjoyed a very warm relationship with her father, so the first few months in her new home are very difficult for her. However, one day Amy finds a nest full of eggs, which was tossed away by land developers clearing a wooded area. Amy brings the eggs home and builds a makeshift incubator; a few weeks later, a flock of tiny Canadian Geese are hatched. While caring for her new pets makes Amy happier, a problem soon presents itself -- young geese "imprint" on the first creature they see after hatching and follow it, as if it's their mother. Without a mother to show them how to fly south for the winter, how will they learn normal migratory patterns? Thomas comes up with a solution to the problem: as a hobby, he flies Ultralights, lightweight aircraft that look like gliders with engines. If he puts Amy in an Ultralight and has her fly the migratory route to the South, perhaps the birds will follow her and learn the route their mother would normally teach them. Amy's adventures help her learn about independence as she tries to teach it to the birds, bringing her closer to her father.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/07/2009
UPC:	0043396295346
Original Release:	1996
Rating:	PG
Source:	SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMT
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:47:00
Sales rank:	20,062

Special Features

Director and cinematographer commentary; Operation Migration: Birds of a Feather featurette; HBO Making Of: Leading the Flock featurette; BD Live enabled

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jeff Daniels	Thomas Alden
Anna Paquin	Amy Alden
Dana Delany	Susan Barnes
Terry Kinney	David Alden
Holter Graham	Barry Strickland
Jeremy Ratchford	Glen Seifert
Deborah Verginella	Amy's Mother
Michael J. Reynolds	General
David Hemblen	Dr. Killian
Ken James	Developer
Nora Ballard	Jackie,Actor
Sarena Paton	Laura,Actor
Carmen Lishman	Older Girl,Actor
Christi Hill	Older Girl
Judith Orban	Teacher
Jeff Braunstein	Chairman
John Friesen	Smalltown Businessman
Chris Benson	Farmer
Kevin Jubinville	Military Police
Philip Akin	Air Force Reporter
Gladys O'Connor	Farm Woman
Geoff McBride	Clerk
Dick Callahan	Customs Inspector
Cheryl MacInnis	Reporter
Mark Wilson	Reporter
J. Craig Sandy	Reporter
Wendy Walsh	Televison Anchor,TV Anchor
Larry McCormick	Television Anchor
Richard Saxton	Television Anchor
Linden Chiles	Television Anchor
Timm Zemanek	Husband
Diane Douglass	Wife
Azura Bates	Bratty Sister,Bratty Brother
Michael Vollans	Bratty Brother
Michael Copeman	Gun Shop Owner
John E. Nelles	Tower Supervisor,Tower Supervisor
Jeffrey W. Poulis	Tower Operator,Tower Operator
Christopher Lorenz	Tower Operator
Melissa Tanti	Dune Woman
Mark Isham	Composer,Actor
Carol Baum	Actor
Dennis Berardi	Actor
John M. Eckert	Actor
Robert Rodat	Actor
Kim B. Christensen	Actor
Sandy Gallin	Actor
Vince McKewin	Actor
Malcolm Fife	Actor

Technical Credits

Robert Rodat

Vince McKewin

Carroll Ballard	Director
Robert Rodat	Screenwriter
Vince McKewin	Screenwriter
Carol Baum	Producer
Deirdre Bowen	Casting
Reuben Cannon	Casting
Sandy Gallin	Executive Producer
Martin Malivoire	Special Effects
John Mariella	Special Effects
John Veitch	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Fly Away Home is a rousing family tale at which Mom and Dad should find themselves as enthralled as the kids. Without the sugar-coating that plagues so many youth-oriented films, it addresses such serious topics as environmentalism, death, divorce, and reconciliation. As father and daughter, Jeff Daniels and Anna Paquin turn in strong performances; the supporting geese are no less important. The adept director Carroll Ballard and cinematographer Caleb Deschanel previously worked together on The Black Stallion, and their subtle, delicate work is similarly impressive here. A credit to all involved, Fly Away Home is the rare family film that inspires as it entertains.

All Movie Guide