Fly Away Home follows thirteen year old Amy Alden (Anna Paquin) shortly after the tragic and untimely death of her mother. As Amy is forced to move from New Zealand, to be with her estranged father, Thomas (Jeff Daniels), she finds herself alone and wondering what the world has left to offer her. As she attempts to navigate the new and unfamiliar world of Canada, she finds that new and unexpected friends are on the horizon. She quickly discovers a gaggle of goose eggs that will soon turn her gloomy world around. Both Amy and Thomas become attached to their new friends and find themselves attempting to teach them the ways of the world.
Paquin’s young and expressive face draws in audiences and almost immediately allows them to appreciate her character. It is incredibly fortunate for director Carroll Ballard that Paquin was able to be so expressive and that she was a rather adorable child, as her character often displayed behaviors that were terribly troublesome. This aspect of the character was not abnormal or unexpected, as she just experienced a terrible loss, however, writers Robert Rodat and Vince McKewin created a character that was often ungrateful and abhorrent in the early going of the script. Casting directors Dierdre Bowen and Reuben Cannon did a wonderful job of casting Paquin in the lead role, as choosing another young actor could have been detrimental to the developing role of Amy. Rodat and McKewin’s choice to make Amy’s character so displeasing nearly ruined the film. However, their ability to develop this character so wonderfully throughout the rest of the film was the saving grace. Even more than just Amy’s character, they were able to develop a bond between father and daughter that was touching and utterly believable.
Daniels and Paquin had a beautiful chemistry; they perfectly played father and daughter and their bond was honest and innocent. It was this relationship that drove the story. The slew of geese and Amy’s commitment to them is the backbone of the story, however, it was that father/daughter bond that was the heart and soul. The geese, in many ways, take a back seat to Amy and Thomas and do just enough to support them throughout the film. The story, as a whole, was touching and heartfelt. Rodat and McKewin developed a beautiful story of innocence and perseverance by way of simplicity. Their story transcends all ages and can truly be appreciated by all.
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