Fly Away Home
By Nell Minow,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Thrilling, touching adventure for animal lovers.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Fly Away Home
Community Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Lovely little movie
A Great Movie for Tweens, with Two Warnings
What's the Story?
In FLY AWAY HOME, 13-year-old Amy must go live with her father Tom (Jeff Daniels), whom she barely knows, in a new country after her mother is killed in a car crash. Amy does not want to be comforted, and wanders silently through the marshes near her new home. When developers illegally mow down the marsh, killing a goose, Amy finds the eggs she left behind, and begins to resolve her loss by mothering the goslings. Since she is the first thing they see when they hatch, they "imprint" her, and think of her as their mother, following her everywhere, even into the shower. The local authorities insist that their wings be clipped, since without their mother they can't learn to migrate and will cause problems for the community when they try to fly. But Amy and her father won't allow the geese to be impaired. Tom and Amy work together to teach the geese how to fly, and then migrate. As they work together, Amy finds a way to begin to heal her loss of her mother and her relationship with Tom.
Is It Any Good?
This film is a thrilling adventure, exquisitely told, by the same director and photographer who made The Black Stallion. Ballard has the patience to let the story tell itself in Fly Away Home, and the quiet moments are breathtakingly beautiful and heartbreakingly touching.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why it's so important to Amy to keep the geese wild and free in Fly Away Home. What kind of a life would they have had with their wings clipped?
Families can also talk about the importance of preserving wetlands and their importance as an ecosystem. What's lost if too many wetlands are developed?
How does Amy's cause help her heal after her mother's death?
How do Amy and the other characters in Fly Away Home demonstrate communication, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 1, 1998
- On DVD or streaming: August 7, 2001
- Cast: Anna Paquin , Dana Delany , Jeff Daniels
- Director: Carroll Ballard
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Bisexual actors
- Studio: Columbia Tristar
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models , Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Communication , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time: 107 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: May 11, 2024
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate