User reviews

A family film .. yes but certainly one that can be watched and watched again without the need for a licensing child. Jeff Daniels is superb as an eccentric father who takes on board his daughter after his estranged wife's death in a car accident. A strong supporting cast (including geese) are driven to support Amy's desire to assist a bunch of orphaned geese to maintain a wild existence. This involves teaching the geese to fly and leading them South by air. This journey for both the daughter coping with grief after the loss of her mother, the father in discovering his daughter once more and the geese in finding a new home for the Winter adds up to .. well tears and more tears.

Before you write this film off as "fantasy" take the time to watch the BBC's Life of Birds final part. There you meet a remarkable farmer from the US who is using a microlite to aid a few of the last remaining Whooping Cranes to re-establish migratory patterns.

In the UK the site of skeins of wild geese migrating in Winter form their Summer homes in Iceland and the Arctic circle is one of the last great wildlife dramas left on this small island. The views in Fly away Home of Amy's geese as they move in to join the hundreds of wild geese powering South capture this majesty. This story of a group of people who care about and assist this natural pattern may help reinforce some of the awe that we should all feel when confronted with these epic and annual journeys.

WARNING: This review may reveal portions of the movie plot.

If you want to just lose yourself in a story that is sweet and uplifting, then this is the movie for you. I was surprised at how efficiently this movie drew me in, but then again I'm a big softie at heart. I started watching this movie late one night and didn't want to stop -- so I didn't!

The movie concerns a young girl who goes to live with her father after her mother is killed in a car accident. Dad and Mom divorced many years before and live on opposite sides of the world -- Canada and New Zealand -- so she doesn't know Dad very well.

Jeff Bridges plays the father in this film and does it incredibly well. He's an artist who is just a little bit quirky, a big believer in following your dreams, and desperately trying to capture the love for his daughter that he regrets having lost in the divorce years before. Anna Paquin as his 13-year old daughter is wonderful -- how do young kids act so well??? -- as she learns to grieve for her mother, find a new life in a new country, and love and trust a father whom she has barely known most of her life.

The supporting cast shines as well, in most cases. Most notably is Terry Kinney as Daniels brother and the young girls uncle. He's the kind of uncle everyone wants to have around, although when he falls asleep while babysitting and Paquin's character disappears, he doesn't seem very responsible. He becomes a bit of a scene stealer though as the movie progresses. He has one of the best lines in the film when he tries to convince a U.S. border-patrol agent that he needs dozens of gallons of gas to go camping for his portable generator to run his blender and TV. "Nothing like camping in the middle of no where with your VCR, a good movie, and a pina colada."

Dana Delany (of TV's "China Beach" fame) plays Daniels sometimes live-in girlfriend and seems to be the only actor who doesn't really stretch in this part. I don't believe this is Delany's fault, however. This story is primarily about the father-daughter relationship, and Delany's part suffers as a result. Most scenes are supportive and don't really give her a chance to shine.

The story is well written with a combination of genuine emotion, without becoming overly sappy. Yes, the film is sweet, but not sickeningly so. When the credits began to roll at the end of this movie, the first thing I thought of way, "How could this have gotten a PG rating?" I *literally* heard one four-letter word in the entire film, and that is said under the breath so that I wasn't even sure I heard it. There is one reference to sex outside marriage, and a car accident at the beginning of the film. That's it. Parents, you can show this to young children without any real concern. My suggestion: Watch the first 5 minutes of the film and if you decide your children can handle the opening sequence of a car crash, then there probably is nothing else in the film that should be a problem (in my opinion!)

This movie has something thats missing in a lot of other movies. It has a soul, and a belief in good.

Its believable, beautiful and smooth. Its cast shows that they´re as good as any renowned "great" actor of the day, and the story is quite light...yet its something strangely moving about it.

A daughter that looses her mother, which leads her to take care of doomed geese. And even though the cute-scale is quite high, the movie still holds you cause of its fine acting and soulful goodness.

This is a great movie for all ages. Its nice shooted, really nice telled, and good acted.

Its a given choice for the whole family. 9/10!

Ps. The soundtrack is also very nice. Suttle, clean and memorable.

I got sucked into a movie on the satellite dish the other day, 'Fly Away Home.' It's a story about a young motherless girl (Amy) who rescues some wild goose eggs and basically becomes their mother. The story evolves as the goslings grow into young adult birds ready to fly south. Since they never had parents the geese haven't learned to fly. The girl's dad thinks he can get them to fly by following him in his ultra-light. But they will only follow Amy. So dad teaches her to fly. Soon the geese are flying. Next, dad and Amy hatch a plot to fly south and have the geese follow them. We know this actually happened when 2 scientists did something similar.

One of the reasons I was sucked into this wonderful family movie was the photography. It is National Geographic quality. In fact I was so impressed with the cinematography that I had to look up who did it: Caleb Deschanel. The setting, a farm in Southern Ontario, allowed him to become intimate with the geese and the natural setting. Another reason I couldn't stop watching the movie was the stunning performance by Anna Paquin, the 16-year old girl who played Amy. I remembered her from the movie, 'Piano.' She played Flora, the daughter of Holly Hunter. I'm sure they picked Paquin to do that part because of her speaking ability. Holly Hunter played the part of Ada, a woman who couldn't talk. She communicated with sign language through her daughter. Paquin was so good in her part that she won the Oscar, quite a feat for an 11-year old.

The story, 'Fly Away Home' is touching because she's not the kind of Hollywood-trained child actor you find in most movies. A surprising thing happened as I watched Amy and her geese. I could sense a startling serenity from her as the bond had developed between them. I wondered how she could manage that. She was only a 16-year old actress then but she conveyed a mothering instinct that goes back to the ageless beginnings of life on this planet. When the goslings were following her around, much of the photography was from ground level. Later when they were all flying, the photography was right there in the flying formation. You were seeing the birds, in flight, right next to you. The beauty of motion was unbelievable. I thought, 'How could anyone shoot these creatures?' There is beauty in seeing them fly. There is beauty in seeing them in their habitat. But the overwhelming beauty is in their living. They deserved that life. It made me think of this sad planet and the billions of creatures that have died because of the human race. Here was a story that went against the slaughter. When Amy and her birds arrived at their destination in Chesapeake Bay I had misty eyes.

So I'm a soft touch.

Amy Alden (Anna Paquin) survives a car crash where her mother is killed. She leaves New Zealand to live with her father Thomas (Jeff Daniels) in his ramshackle house in Ontario, Canada. She has no memories of her Canadian home and feels isolated. He's an eccentric inventor artist who flies his homemade glider. Susan Barnes (Dana Delany) is his girlfriend. After a land developer tears down some trees, Amy finds an abandoned nest of goose eggs. She raises the chicks but when the time comes, she has to teach them to fly south.

This is a fine family movie. Anna Paquin is adorable and so are the chicks. The story is gentle feel good. Jeff Daniels is great as the eccentric dad. There is a real free feeling that comes from watching people run around with these geese. There is a minor drama with a wildlife officer and a main one with a land developer. In the end, the drama isn't too high but it's good for the whole family.

Those three are the keys to this film's secrets of success. The excellent acting performances by both Jeff Daniels and Oscar winner Anna Paquin make a very good chemistry between the two also. Paquin's character here was perhaps more complex and challenging than "The Piano". The no-nonsense smart script makes the film not restricted to the 'family' film category. The cinematography was nominated for Oscar and one can easily see why. The wildlife scenes can easily be compared to the superior programs we see on National Geographic etc. The end sequence was brilliantly filmed and is a treat to the eyes. In short, "Fly Away Home" is indeed a refreshing experience.

I watched this movie when I was really young. It has some powerful magic and beautiful cinematography. Really go and see it if you haven't seen it!

I don't have much in the way of feelings so usually stick to science.

An engineer by trade I used to subscribe to a "tecchie" aviation magazine. One issue had this incredible story by some kindly if eccentric Canadian folks who had raised a gaggle of baby geese, and you know the rest. Details of aviation aside, the story warmed my heart. Most Unusual.

A year or so later I took my kids to see "Flyaway Home" expecting a mildly entertaining nature documentary, like Disney's old "Prairie Dog Town" with an aviation twist.

What I saw was a superbly crafted and deeply touching little masterpiece. I was in tears by the end.

Metaphors of kindness aside, this film will touch any heart however hardened or scarred .

And the kids liked it too.

When her mother is killed in a car accident, Amy Alden, a 13-year-old New Zealand girl, moves to Ontario, Canada, to live with her father Thomas, an eccentric sculptor and inventor whom she has not seen for ten years, and his girlfriend Susan. (Amy's journey from New Zealand to Canada seems to have been a detail invented to explain away Anna Paquin's accent. Like Amy, Anna is the daughter of a Canadian father and a mother from New Zealand and spent most of her childhood in the latter country). Amy is a shy, lonely girl who finds it difficult to make friends, but she is interested in nature, and when she finds abandoned Canada goose nest containing sixteen eggs, she brings the eggs home, incubates them and keeps the goslings as pets. A local bureaucratic busybody, however, points out that under Government regulations geese cannot be kept as domestic animals unless their wings have been clipped, a process which Amy finds repellent.

Here in Britain, where they are an introduced species, Canada geese are about as sedentary a species as one could imagine; some of them migrate no further from one side of the lake in the park to the other. (My parents had a pair on the pond in front of their house that seemed to remain there 365 days a year. And those were officially wild birds rather than pets). In their native North America, however, they are highly migratory, making long journeys from their breeding grounds in Canada to their wintering grounds in the American South. Thomas, therefore, decides to use his home-made ultralight aircraft to lead Amy's geese on their annual migration. When he realises that the birds regard Amy as their mother, he teaches her how to fly a microlight of her own so that she can lead them.

That plotline seems absolutely bonkers; I wouldn't allow a teenage daughter of mine to make a flight by microlight of one mile, let alone the several hundred miles from Ontario to North Carolina. "Fly Away Home" is, however, partly based on fact. The character of Thomas is based on Bill Lishman a Canadian sculptor, filmmaker, inventor, naturalist and microlight enthusiast who did indeed make a flight of this nature in an effort (successful, it would appear) to teach a flock of geese how to migrate. The difference is that Lishman did not have a 13-year-old girl flying alongside him; the character of Amy appears to have been invented to increase the film's appeal to the family audience.

I called the plot bonkers, but in some ways the film is magnificently bonkers, celebrating as it does an exploit which seems pointless, even to a keen ornithologist like myself, and yet at the same time exhilaratingly adventurous. Much of the credit must go to Paquin who resists the temptation to play her character as a cute, winsome little girl. Instead Amy emerges as a rather quiet, solemn child, seeming rather younger than her thirteen years, and yet somehow appealing, probably because her love of nature and of her birds is so obviously sincere, not just something feigned in order to impress adults. Paquin is so good that she rather overshadows her adult co-stars, Jeff Daniels, and Dana Delany. The photography of the Canadian landscapes, especially the aerial shots giving us a goose's-eye view, is also impressive. (I say "Canadian" rather than "Canadian and American" because the whole film was shot in Canada, even when the action was supposed to be taking place in the States; Toronto, for example, stood in for Baltimore). Despite the implausibility of the plot (something unlikely to worry younger viewers) "Fly Away Home" makes a very enjoyable family adventure. 7/10.

This is poetic, emotional, breathtaking film-making blessed with a truly inspiring Mark Isham score. The theme song, "10,000 Miles", is achingly beautiful and is first used with intuitive irony over the film's opening credit sequence.

Anna Paquin is the little girl who, with her father, Jeff Daniels, "imprints" with a flock of young geese and leads them, via homemade aircraft, to a new home thousands of miles away.

The flight sequences, which combine real flying with computer-assisted imagery over rivers, pastures and cityscapes, are flawless. They capture the awe and staggering thrill of flight without ever resorting to unnecessary, contrived stuntwork.

Daniels, not a regular face on the silver screen these days, is natural and likable as Paquin's eccentric father while Paquin once again demonstrates what a brilliant talent she is.

The narrative builds to an exciting conclusion as the film's environmental theme is amplified.

Director Ballard, who also made the striking BLACK STALLION and the stark NEVER CRY WOLF, brings acute visual economy to every scene and never allows the film's underlying theme to become preachy.

Caleb Deschanel, the film's cinematographer, gives us flawless images that frequently drop the jaw.

A major achievement in a minor key.

I saw this movie in theaters with my dad. When we left he said, "It makes you want to go buy a little airplane, doesn't it?" It did. I loved this movie, the music especially. I was saddened to find that they didn't release a soundtrack.

While a little folksy, it is nevertheless a funny and heartwarming story about a girl's relationship with her father in a home she is struggling to remember. Amy is trying to cope with her mother's death, then has to move halfway across the world and get used to new family members, her father's workaholic bachelor life, and her father's girlfriend. Just as she is ready to give up, she becomes the mother to fifteen abandoned Canadian geese. Her father and friends put together an elaborate scheme to teach the geese to fly and chaos ensues as Amy and her father lead their flock south for the winter. A touching story of life and love. I recommend it highly.

First off, ignore the PG rating. There's more objectionable stuff in Sunday School. Then gather the kids, yours, your neighbors' and if you're a rug rat wrangler, this one will sooth the savage beasties. Fire up the corn-popper or microwaves, make pizzas and kick back. Yes, it is THAT good. Anna Pacquin shows the stuff that helped cut her cute little acting chops to win her future Oscar. Jeff Daniels is quietly quirky as her ultra-light pilot father and the rest of the cast is unobtrusive if not engaging. But the real grabbers are the ducks, er, geese (and that's a borrowed line) and the way they are lovingly photographed on land, water and in the air. And wait 'till you get a gander at the dad-made honker that takes flight to lead the flock. It's a slow starter but stay with it. Then when the kids are all gone, curl up and watch it with that big baby you like next to you most.

This was pretty good, but it was not as "awesome" as I had heard it described prior to watching it. The photography and some of the scenery was "awesome," but not the spoiled attitude of the 12-year-old girl who starred in the movie. That was Anna Paquin playing "Amy Alden." Amy could have used a good smack on the behind a few times, according to the folks I watched the movie with, so you know Anna did a good job of acting to elicit a response from viewers. None of us appreciated that this "family film" had some profanity, too, including using the Lord's in vain blatantly once. I guess this helped the producers get rid of the "G," which they seemed to really want to avoid back in the '80s and '90s. I watched the movie with a guy who is a member of the Niagara Falls Air Force Base, and he's in the picture!

The little girl might have been annoying most of the way, but the photography was excellent all of the way, and so were the amazing geese who followed "Amy." I also thought highly of the opening credits and the accompanying Mary Chapin Carpenter song. This would have really been a sweet movie had they made the little girl a nice kid instead of a brat.

Following Toy Story comes Fly Away Home, another string to the increasingly large bow of children's films that adults can also enjoy. The story follows Amy, a 13-year-old New Zealand girl who is forced to live with her estranged father in Canada following a car crash that kills her mother. Amy becomes increasingly withdrawn and upset until she finds a collection of similarly orphaned goslings that she takes care of, nurturing them until they are ready to migrate to the southern United States.

The film could easily have fallen into the sappy ‘family film' category. However, it never lets itself, choosing to concentrate more on characters than moments. Amy's character, played with breathtaking maturity by Anna Paquin, is better developed and more complex than characters in most films aimed at adults. The supporting cast also flesh out their strong characters to make the whole film much more believable.

The cinematography is beautiful, the dusky-autumnal scenes are captured in an explosion of reds and yellows and oranges that seem to wash over you time and time again, and the final flight sequence is a wonderful closing to an incredibly refreshing film.

The premise may seem a bit corny for some. Others may view it as too much of a feel-good movie. It's not. It is a thoroughly entertaining film with a good story and great acting.

I admit, it's just this side of corny at times, but the story is very well-written and the dialog is very good. You can tell they did a lot of research for this one. Recommend.

Bill Lishmanis autobiographical Fly Away Home is one of the best movies for the entire family. "Amy Alden" played by adorable Oscar winner Anna Paquin (The Piano, Amistad, Jane Eyre) is as great character and people can identify with her because of her vulnerability. The parents were divorced and Amy lived with her mother in New Zealand. Her mother died in a car crash, and Amy became an orphan due to her mothers death. She did not know her father "Thomas Alden" Jeff Daniels (Pleasantville, Terms of Endearment) at all, and has go to Canada to live with him. He dates "Susan Barnes" Dana Delany (China Beach, Tombstone). The three of them have to go to this incredible and beautiful journey where they all bond, because of the Canada geese who have also lost their mom, and Amy could identify with that and decided to adopt them. They have to fly across Canada to the U.S. and down to the Carolinas. The photography is absolutely gorgeous, and Caleb Deschanel was nominated for Best Cinematography Oscar. The music is also beautiful. I have the tape and have watched this movie several times. Everybody loves this movie. It will make you cheer and tear up at the same time. One of the most interesting points of this movie is the Amy's commitment to the geese. Favorite Scenes: Birds all over; the dinning room, the table, bathroom, swimming in the toilet bowl. Amy flying down the main-street in Baltimore.

Favorite quotes: "Hey, hey, hey come on geese." Amy telling her dad:" My geese will not have anything to do with your crazy ideas." Amy: "Hello papa goose this is so cool." Amy tells her father:" You never came to see me." Thomas Alden: " New Zealand is pretty far away Amy." Amy:" That is a real lame excuse!"

I never expected Fly Away Home to be so good, it is a truly extraordinary, poignant and completely lovable family film. Who cares if it starts off slowly? There is so much to redeem this movie, that the pros completely outweigh the minor con.

Fly Away is exquisitely filmed, with breathtaking settings and stunning cinematography. I do think the the film's overall look is its main merit, as well as the truly lovely music score. The script is beautiful, more poignant above all else. And I almost forgot to mention the heartwarming story.

I thought also the performances were outstanding. Jeff Daniels is a revelation as the father, in one of his best performances, and Anna Paquin is just superb in the title role. Of course the scene stealers are the adorable baby geese, but Paquin's chemistry with them, so motherly she was, reduced me to tears on several occasions.

This movie shouldn't be dismissed as an overly sentimental, bittersweet bit of eye candy. It is to me and my entire family, a truly beautiful, well meaning and poignant film for the entire family to treasure for a very long time. I am 17, and I really can't think of anything else to add other than a 10/10. (one of the easiest perfect scores I have given recently) Bethany Cox

I had heard many many good things about this film, and wanted to like it. Other than the central idea of leading the geese, however, I found the film to be highly formulaic. Additionally, I thought that Anna Paquin's character was very much the total brat with whom I found it very hard to sympathize.

Well now, this was just a cute little film. Anna Paquin was great, and the ducklings too! It was fairly predictable, but some impressive camera shots, great scenery, and an overall feel-good mood and theme made this well worth the watch.

I love this movie it's a classic.You will love it. It's one of those heart toucher's.Its a great story and you can tell that there's a lot of meaning to it.I guarantee you'll love it!!It is based on a true story,its about a girl who finds 16 goose eggs and begins raising the geese after the eggs hatch.It's a sad and happy story and also a must see motion picture.

I have seen this movie at least 50 times and i am willing to watch it another million times!! I personally recommend that you see this movie. If you don't see it i can guarantee you will regret it. So go rent Fly Away Home a great 1996 film for you and your family. Enjoy watching this great film,i know I did!!

This is definitely one of those movies I watched over and over as a kid. The story is inspiring, the acting is pretty good, and the geese are just adorable. As an adult I find Amy to be a bit annoying, like your dads trying to help and you're being all moody and rude.

This was another of those troubled teen films that I dislike so much. The rebellious, bitchy, bratty teen with the weight of the world solidly placed on her brave little shoulders. What rot! A very hokey production with an unbelievable story about a flock of geese trained to follow a flying go-cart. I've seen worse, but just barely.