Flight of Fancy

Short Film (Excerpts) – 1987

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This whimsical documentary follows Kiwi artist Michael Smither as he sets out to learn to fly. Smither exudes curiosity, laughter and joy as he develops a series of flying suits, aided by cartoonist Burton Silver and Caroline Girdlestone (who went on to wrangle animals for movies Babe and Black Sheep). Flight of Fancy is lyrical and full of surprises. Made by director Tony Hiles, it was shot on location at Farewell Spit and Wharariki Beach. The music is by Warratahs violinist Nik Brown. Hiles explored flying once more in his 1995 movie Jack Brown Genius. Writer Mary-Jane Duffy explores Flight of Fancy here.

I think it's possible — I do. Maybe I won't do it. Maybe it won't be me. It might be somebody slightly lighter than me (laughter) ... as long as we approach it in this sort of logical, evolutionary, step by step sort of thing. We'll try things out.
– Michael Smither on flying