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The Theory of Flight

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
The Theory of Flight (1998)
ComedyDramaRomance

Two miserable people find happiness together: a man dreaming of flying, and a woman dreaming of living.Two miserable people find happiness together: a man dreaming of flying, and a woman dreaming of living.Two miserable people find happiness together: a man dreaming of flying, and a woman dreaming of living.

  • Director
    • Paul Greengrass
  • Writer
    • Richard Hawkins
  • Stars
    • Helena Bonham Carter
    • Kenneth Branagh
    • Gemma Jones
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    2.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Paul Greengrass
    • Writer
      • Richard Hawkins
    • Stars
      • Helena Bonham Carter
      • Kenneth Branagh
      • Gemma Jones
    • 33User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
    • 48Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    The Theory of Flight
    Trailer 0:31
    The Theory of Flight

    Photos19

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    Top cast20

    Edit
    Helena Bonham Carter
    Helena Bonham Carter
    • Jane Hatchard
    Kenneth Branagh
    Kenneth Branagh
    • Richard
    Gemma Jones
    Gemma Jones
    • Anne
    Holly Aird
    Holly Aird
    • Julie
    Ray Stevenson
    Ray Stevenson
    • Gigolo
    Sue Jones-Davies
    • Catherine
    • (as Sue Jones Davies)
    Gwenyth Petty
    • Magistrate
    Robert Blythe
    Robert Blythe
    • Farmer
    Aneirin Hughes
    • Doctor
    Natasha Williams
    • Care Worker
    Sian Naiomi
    • Volunteer
    Ruth Jones
    Ruth Jones
    • Becky
    Nia Roberts
    Nia Roberts
    • Checkout Girl
    Dilys Price
    • Mrs. Williams
    Jill James
    • Mrs. Allen
    Sidney Williams
    • Club Owner
    Daryl Beeton
    • Club Organiser
    Deborah Sheridan-Taylor
    • Shop Assistant
    • Director
      • Paul Greengrass
    • Writer
      • Richard Hawkins
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews33

    6.52.7K
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    Featured reviews

    6helverdi

    How nice, but couldn't it be better?

    Sometimes, when you grow weary of all the glamorous! American style movies, you look forward to seeing one from Europe that does not deal much with the art's technological aspects but the story and the feelings alone. I have thought that "The Theory of Flight" was a film of emotions and atmosphere. Honestly, I think it was planned to be that way. Unfortunately, the result was not satisfactory. K.B. and H.B.C. are great, I can't ignore their invaluable contributions to the movie. But I feel something was lacking. The characters were not deeply analysed maybe, or the situation of being "cripped" was mentioned better in other films (remember "My Left Foot"). In the 15. minute of the movie, we have learned that Jane was desiring to lose her virginity like normal people. And the story finished! Nothing else. The remaining portion just concentrated on this matter. How about Richard's own problems, Anne's point of view on having a daughter like Jane? In fact, we don't understand Jane's feelings, too. We just make guesses depending on our knowledge of other movie characters. I finally must say that seeing K.B. and H.B.C. together in a movie was nice. They play their roles very well. But as a whole, "The Theory of Flight" is a shallow movie. It should have been better with these players and this interesting story.
    8MarioB

    Intelligent melodrama

    At the start, this one is from England, so, of course, I had 98 % chances that it will be intelligent and very good cinema. I never heard of this film before. From the minute I saw Helena Bonham-Carter, I said to myself : Oh! Here's comes the feminine version of My Left Foot. I was right, but I was also wrong. Wrong because the two movies are very differents. My Left Foot was a John Ford alike movie and this one is a Chaplin alike movie (not because this is funny, but Chaplin at that great sense of melodrama that brings tears to your eyes.) I was right because in 1990 handsome Daniel Day-Lewis turn a little bit ugly by playing an crippled person and he did it with a great sense of reality. Here, very beautiful Bonham-Carter did exactly the same thing, but with very feminine emotions. The story is well written and it's very intelligent. For me, miss Bonham-Carter gives one of the greatest woman's part of the 1990's, with Emily Lloyd in Breaking The Waves. Gee! And look at her eyes! She had the most beautiful eyes of cinema since Jobyna Ralston, Louise Brooks, Michele Morgan and Ava Gardner! She's also a true talent, as seen on many other movies. See this one, you won't regret it! And a very fine job by Branagh too!
    Parksy

    Troubled man finds redemption through friendship with disabled woman

    A very well-written engaging story. Don't be surprised if Helena Bonham-Carter receives another Oscar nomination for her work in this film.
    Amidala-9

    A point of view new to my eyes.

    Yes, I know everyone is sick of the typical sick-dying-person-of-the-week drama, but somehow this movie was drastically different from other movies based on physically challenged people. The driving force in the movie is no doubt Jane, a young woman who faces the fact that she shall die soon. (Bonham Carter) I am a veteran of pictures which feature a dying character with a physical disability. But those films somehow never got the character to seem like a person. After a while, Jane isn't a "sick cripple", she is a human, just a human in a wheelchair. That is all the viewer will see from Bonham Carter's portrayal. Another beautiful quality of the film is Jane refuses to be mushy and over-emotional. It is what she refuses to show that really hits home. Branagh's character Richard should not be overlooked. It's his story more or less. Jane brought Richard's redemption. He is the cripple of the story, he is the one who is dying. "Taking flight has more than one meaning"..Jane utters to Richard. "The Theory of Flight" is an original movie which I recommend to anyone looking for a fresh look on a dying person, whether you see the dying person as Jane or Richard.
    7helen-15

    Worth seeing for Bonham Carter's performance.

    Although this movie has some weaknesses, it is worth seeing. I chose it because of the cast, and applaud Bonham Carter and Branagh for choosing roles different from those they have taken in the past. Both portray very troubled people, complete with warts, but make them likeable because of their humanity. The story is touching, but it is the performances that soar. Bonham Carter's "Jane" is a remarkable achievement, whose quest for romance opened my eyes to aspects of being disabled that I had not thought of before, but was interesting as well for other reasons. I felt the movie ended too abruptly, but better that than a drawn out emotionally manipulative ending (see "Stepmom.") The very real English setting added to my enjoyment - it was England in the 90's, both urban and rural, without being depressing.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Helena Bonham Carter drew on her own life experiences to play a handicapped character. Her own father was wheelchair-bound for years.
    • Quotes

      Jane: Our lives may be easier, but will never be as full. 1971 - 1997.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: At First Sight/Another Day in Paradise/Hi-Lo Country/Playing by Heart/The Theory of Flight (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Nothing Else
      Written by Darius Keeler, Roya Arab

      Performed by Archive

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    FAQ

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 22, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Теорія польоту
    • Filming locations
      • Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr, Wales, UK
    • Production companies
      • Distant Horizon
      • BBC Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $73,233
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $15,179
      • Dec 27, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $73,233
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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