The film is based on the real-life exploits of , a Canadian inventor, artist, and ultralight enthusiast. In 1988, Lishman wondered: If birds imprint on the first thing they see, why can't they imprint on a machine?
The film follows 13-year-old Amy Alden (Anna Paquin), who moves from New Zealand to Ontario, Canada, to live with her estranged father, Thomas (Jeff Daniels), after her mother dies in a car accident. Feeling isolated in her new surroundings, Amy finds solace when she discovers a nest of abandoned Canada goose eggs in a forest slated for development. Fly Away Home
Amy discovers abandoned goose eggs after a construction crew destroys their nesting ground. When they hatch, the goslings "imprint" on her as their mother. The film is based on the real-life exploits
Jeff Daniels plays Thomas Alden as a chaotic, "absent-minded professor" type who is terrible at emotional vulnerability. The movie’s arc is not just about flying; it’s about a father who learns to respect his daughter’s agency. The moment Thomas yells, "Go, Amy! Go!" as she navigates a storm is a masterclass in parenting: letting go so your child can fly. Feeling isolated in her new surroundings, Amy finds
## Fly Away Home (1996) – A Retrospective
