The Boy Who Could Fly
Charlene Michaelson, her two children - teen-aged Amelia 'Milly' Michaelson and precocious adolescent Louis Michaelson - and their dog Max move into a new house in a new neighborhood after the passing of Charlene's husband/the kids' father, Donald Michaelson. Beyond life without Donald, they are all nervous about starting a new life, which, for Charlene, means getting back into the workforce after thirteen years. Milly quickly settles into the neighborhood if only because she becomes fascinated with their next door neighbor, teen-aged Eric Gibb, who authorities believe is autistic. Orphaned Eric has never spoken a word, and without having been told about the incident, began to think he could fly at the exact moment his parents died in a plane crash. Many believe Eric's belief is because he felt he could thus save his parents. Eric's guardian is his dipsomaniac Uncle Hugo Gibb. Milly's high school teacher, Mrs. Carolyn Sherman, who used to be a special needs teacher, looks after Eric as much as anyone. Mrs. Sherman believes that having Eric in her class with "normal" students is a positive environment for him, unlike the authorities who believe he should be institutionalized. Milly's official and unofficial tasks become to see what lies deep within Eric's psyche, and if there really is any validity to what people think Eric believes.
The film earned $7.2M at the global box office.
3 wins & 5 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Boy Who Could Fly (1986) exhibits deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Nick Castle's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 54 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Milly watches from a window as Eric Gibb stands with arms outstretched on his roof, trying to fly. The camera reveals the Michaelson family moving into the house next door, establishing both the protagonist's fractured family (recent widow with two kids) and the mysterious boy next door.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Milly discovers Eric standing on his windowsill with arms spread, about to jump. She screams, breaking his trance. This moment forces Milly into Eric's world and establishes her need to understand and help him.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Milly makes the active choice to bring Eric into her life and help him. She takes his hand and leads him to school, beginning their friendship. She commits to being his protector and friend, entering the "mirror world" of their relationship., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat FALSE VICTORY: Eric appears to actually fly, catching Milly when she falls from the roof. Milly is convinced he saved her through flight. Her belief is at its peak, but this "miracle" raises the stakes—can she hold onto this belief, and what will it cost her?., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, ALL IS LOST: Eric is taken away to a psychiatric institution. Milly loses her friend and protector. Her mother is in the hospital. The family is fractured. The "whiff of death"—the death of hope, belief, and the magic that held them together., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. BREAKTHROUGH: Milly realizes she must act. She combines her newfound strength (learned from Eric) with her practical abilities. She breaks Eric out of the institution, choosing action over passivity, belief over resignation. The synthesis of both worlds., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Boy Who Could Fly's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Boy Who Could Fly against these established plot points, we can identify how Nick Castle utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Boy Who Could Fly within the drama genre.
Nick Castle's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Nick Castle films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Boy Who Could Fly represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Nick Castle filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Nick Castle analyses, see The Last Starfighter, Dennis the Menace and Tap.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Milly watches from a window as Eric Gibb stands with arms outstretched on his roof, trying to fly. The camera reveals the Michaelson family moving into the house next door, establishing both the protagonist's fractured family (recent widow with two kids) and the mysterious boy next door.
Theme
Uncle Hugo tells Milly, "You can't live in the past. You have to let go." This becomes the central theme: grief, belief, and the power of letting go to truly move forward.
Worldbuilding
Milly and her family settle into their new home and school. We learn Milly is struggling with her father's death, her mother is overwhelmed and on medication, and her brother Louis is being bullied. Eric is introduced as the silent, autistic boy next door who never speaks and believes he can fly.
Disruption
Milly discovers Eric standing on his windowsill with arms spread, about to jump. She screams, breaking his trance. This moment forces Milly into Eric's world and establishes her need to understand and help him.
Resistance
Milly debates whether to get involved with Eric. She researches his tragic backstory (parents died in a plane crash), observes him, and begins to care for him despite warnings from her mother and Uncle Hugo. She visits his home and meets his alcoholic uncle.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Milly makes the active choice to bring Eric into her life and help him. She takes his hand and leads him to school, beginning their friendship. She commits to being his protector and friend, entering the "mirror world" of their relationship.
Mirror World
Milly and Eric share their first real connection as she introduces him to her world. She begins teaching him about normal life while he teaches her about belief and wonder. Their relationship becomes the vehicle for exploring the theme of healing through connection.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Milly and Eric's relationship. She protects him at school, they bond on the roof, she teaches him to interact with the world. Meanwhile, Louis learns confidence through Eric's example, and their mother begins to spiral. The promise of the premise: can belief and connection heal?
Midpoint
FALSE VICTORY: Eric appears to actually fly, catching Milly when she falls from the roof. Milly is convinced he saved her through flight. Her belief is at its peak, but this "miracle" raises the stakes—can she hold onto this belief, and what will it cost her?
Opposition
The forces of "reality" close in. A psychiatrist wants to institutionalize Eric. Milly's mother is hospitalized for a breakdown. The school and authorities pressure the family. Milly's belief is tested as the adult world tries to separate her from Eric and crush the magic.
Collapse
ALL IS LOST: Eric is taken away to a psychiatric institution. Milly loses her friend and protector. Her mother is in the hospital. The family is fractured. The "whiff of death"—the death of hope, belief, and the magic that held them together.
Crisis
Milly's dark night of the soul. She mourns the loss of Eric and confronts her grief over her father. She must decide: does she give up on belief, or fight for it? Louis also struggles, missing his protector and friend.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
BREAKTHROUGH: Milly realizes she must act. She combines her newfound strength (learned from Eric) with her practical abilities. She breaks Eric out of the institution, choosing action over passivity, belief over resignation. The synthesis of both worlds.
Synthesis
The finale: Milly and Louis rescue Eric and flee to the roof. When Milly falls, Eric leaps after her—and flies, truly flies, catching her and saving her life. The miracle happens when she lets go of control and truly believes. The family reunites, healed.
Transformation
CLOSING IMAGE: Milly stands at her window, watching Eric on his roof with arms outstretched, but now she understands. She has let go of her grief, accepted her father's death, and learned to believe in magic again. The family is whole, and she smiles with peace and wonder.