Fly Away Home (1996)

A father and daughter decide to attempt to lead a flock of orphaned Canada Geese south by air.

Director:

Carroll Ballard

Writers:

Bill Lishman (autobiography), Robert Rodat (screenplay)

Stars:

Jeff Daniels, Anna Paquin, Dana Delany

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Daniels	...	Thomas "Tom" Alden
Anna Paquin	...	Amy Alden
Dana Delany	...	Susan Barnes
Terry Kinney	...	David Alden
Holter Graham	...	Barry Stickland
Jeremy Ratchford	...	Glen Seifert
Deborah Verginella	...	Amy's Mother
Michael J. Reynolds	...	General Hadfield
David Hemblen	...	Dr. Killian
Ken James	...	Developer
Nora Ballard	...	Jackie
Sarena Paton	...	Laura
Carmen Lishman	...	Older Girl
Christi Hill	...	Older Girl
Judith Orban	...	Teacher

Storyline

Amy is only 13 years old when her mother is killed in an auto wreck in New Zealand. She goes to Canada to live with her father, an eccentric inventor whom she barely knows. Amy is miserable in her new life...that is until she discovers a nest of goose eggs that were abandoned when developers began tearing up a local forest. The eggs hatch and Amy becomes "Mama Goose". The young birds must fly south for the winter, but who will lead them there? With a pair of ultralight airplanes, Amy, her dad and their friends must find a way to do it...

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Plot Keywords:

goose | canada | bird | friend | new zealand | 

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Taglines:

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.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for an opening accident scene and some mild language

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amy und die Wildgänse

Filming Locations:

Main Street, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$4,708,044 (USA) (13 September 1996)

Gross:

£3,121,394 (UK) (28 February 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sandollar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels) Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Visa d'exploitation en France # 91770

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Goofs

The end of the movie mentions "all 16 geese including Igor", but there are a total of 17 geese including Igor. In flying scenes, 16 geese can be seen in the air while Igor remains on the ground or with Amy.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Thomas Alden: Amy? It's your dad.
Amy Alden: Dad?
Thomas Alden: I came down from Canada. I've come to take you home.
Amy Alden: Where's Mom?
Thomas Alden: Um...
Amy Alden: Mum died, didn't she?

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Crazy Credits

Amy's birds return the following year to Amy's surprise as she wakes up one morning.

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Connections

Referenced in Duck (2005)

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Soundtracks

10,000 Miles
Produced by Mark Isham, John Jennings, and Mary Chapin Carpenter
Performed by Mary Chapin Carpenter
Courtesy of Columbia Records

User Reviews

If you like William Bouguereau, you'll love this movie

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.