Tuesday’s Overlooked Film: The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)

The Boy Who Could Fly is a favorite childhood film, one that I have not thought about for YEARS.

SYNOPSIS

After the suicide of her terminally ill father, 15-year old Milly (Lucy Deakins) becomes friends with Eric (Jay Underwood), who lost both of his parents to a plane crash. This common, tragic experience allows them to form a very close friendship as a way of coping.

The film also stars Bonnie Bedelia, Fred Savage, Colleen Dewhurst and Fred Gwynne.

I cannot tell you if this film had the most accurate depiction of someone with autism, but I remember being moved by the story, even though at the time I had no idea of how to relate to such a loss (especially for someone so young). I suspect that with the passing years and with the unfortunate loss of one of my parents, the lens through which I enjoy this film is slightly different.

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ILC fun fact: writer/director Nick Castle is also an actor, probably best known as Michael Myers – yeah, he of Halloween fame. Go figure.

Have you seen this film? What did you think about it?

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* Be sure to check out the other overlooked selections on Todd Mason’s Sweet Freedom blog.