The Boy Who Could Fly (1986) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place in a typical suburban neighborhood with houses and trees, creating a serene but often mundane environment. This setting serves as a backdrop for the emotional struggles of the Michaelson family as they navigate personal challenges and form connections with their neighbor Eric.

• setting
• suburban
• location
• neighborhood

The movie is set in a contemporary time period during the late 20th century. The experiences of teenagers dealing with loss, friendship, and growth reflect relatable, real-life issues faced by families in that era.

• time period
• era
• 1980s
• contemporary

The three main themes are loss, imagination, and courage. Loss permeates the story through Milly's grief over her father's death, with each character navigating their own pain. Imagination explores the blur between dreams and reality, especially through Eric's extraordinary ability to fly. Courage appears as characters face their fears and take brave steps toward change.

• themes
• loss
• imagination
• courage
• meaning

Milly Michaelson is a 14-year-old girl who is navigating her family's struggles following her father's death. She displays resilience as she develops a bond with Eric and learns to confront her own grief while supporting him. She serves as the emotional core who helps bridge the gap between Eric's extraordinary world and the challenges of everyday life.

• Milly
• Amelia Michaelson
• character
• protagonist

Eric Gibb is a boy with autism who has a deep fascination with flight. His struggles with his past and his extraordinary ability to fly become a central point of connection for Milly. Eric represents a unique perspective on life, and his character explores themes of acceptance, difference, and the extraordinary within the ordinary.

• Eric
• autism
• flying
• ability
• character

Milly and Eric form a deep friendship that helps both characters grow. Milly helps Eric break through the barriers of his autism, while Eric's extraordinary abilities encourage her to explore the boundary between dreams and reality. Their bond is central to the film's themes of connection, acceptance, and finding hope after loss.

• friendship
• relationship
• Milly Eric
• bond

The theme of loss is driven primarily by Milly's grief over her father's death, but each character deals with their own forms of loss. The movie shows characters navigating their paths through pain and acceptance, forming deep connections in the process. Loss serves as the emotional foundation that makes the characters' journeys meaningful.

• loss
• grief
• death
• father
• emotional

Eric's ability to fly represents freedom, self-discovery, and the power of imagination. For Eric, it offers a chance at freedom from his circumstances and a path toward self-discovery. The flight also serves as a metaphor for transcending limitations, whether emotional, social, or physical, and explores the theme of hope amid difficulty.

• flying
• flight
• freedom
• metaphor
• imagination

Eric's autism is portrayed through his unique perspective on life and his deep fascination with flight. The film shows his struggles with the past and how his extraordinary abilities become a central point of connection with Milly. His character is depicted with depth and sensitivity, showcasing both his challenges and his unique way of experiencing the world.

• autism
• neurodivergent
• character portrayal
• sensitivity

The Michaelson family is dealing with the absence of Milly's father, who has died. Milly's mother Charlene faces the burden of her husband's absence while also handling difficulties at work. Louis, Milly's younger brother, struggles with bullying and the loss of his beloved dog. The family is navigating their grief while trying to support each other through their individual challenges.

• family
• parents
• Charlene
• Louis
• situation

The tone is predominantly hopeful, as characters consistently overcome their struggles, Milly helping Eric, Uncle Hugo tackling his addiction, Louis facing his bullies. However, this hopefulness is rooted in melancholy, driven by grief and bullying. The film handles serious subjects like parental death and autism with a gentle, whimsical touch, creating a bittersweet atmosphere.

• tone
• mood
• bittersweet
• hopeful
• melancholy

Louis Michaelson, Milly's younger brother, struggles with bullying and the loss of his beloved dog. His journey represents resilience in the face of adversity, as he learns to assert himself and find the courage to face his challenges. His character arc ties into the theme of courage and overcoming personal obstacles.

• Louis
• bullies
• bullying
• dog
• challenges

The film leaves the nature of Eric's flight ambiguous, whether it is real or metaphorical. This ambiguity is intentional, supporting the theme of imagination and the blur between dreams and reality. The presence of Eric's extraordinary abilities encourages both Milly and the audience to explore the boundary between what is possible and what exists in the realm of imagination.

• flight
• real
• imaginary
• ambiguous
• magic realism