essay from the movie flicka

The Words of Katy’s Essay from the Movie “Flicka”

The stories we here of how the west was one were all lies. The history of the west was written by the horse. Wherever a settler left his foot print there was a hoof print right beside it. Man came further and further west to stake their claims on the great American wilderness, but they encountered a strength that could not be tamed: wild horses. The settlers called them parasites that could strip the land and starve their own herd. They couldn’t domesticate them so they destroyed them. Isolated and hungry they were on their way to disappearing from the face of the earth. Sometimes when the lie disappears an after image remains, just for a moment mustangs are an after image. No better than ghosts, hardly there at all. No one really wants them not ranchers, not city people. That’s their destiny; let them disappear once and for all with all the other misfits, loners and relics of the wilderness no one cares about anymore. Lucky for us a few mustangs survived, hidden away in the mountains. We need to protect them for them, for they are the hope for some kind of living memory of what the promise of America used to be, and could be again.

I believer there is a force in this world that lives beneath the surface; something primitive and wild that awakens when we need an extra push just to survive, like wildflowers that bloom after a wildfire burns the forest black. Most people are afraid of it and keep it buried deep inside them, but there will always be a few people who have the courage to love what is untamed inside of us; one of those men is my father. There was once a time when Americans came west to discover their destiny. Today they seem to move around in every which where, restless and unsettled, but I think they’re still looking for the same thing: a place where they can be optimistic about the future, a place that helps them be who they really want to be, so they can feel that this life makes since. A place where they can feel what I feel when I’m riding Flicka, because when we’re riding all I feel is…free.

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Katy McLaughlin

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Flicka is a 2006 British-American family adventure drama film loosely based on the 1941 children's novel My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara. In this version, set in the 21st century, the protagonist is a teenage girl, known as Katherine "Katy" McLaughlin , played by Alison Lohman. McLaughlin is the headstrong 16-year-old daughter of Rob McLaughlin, and dreams of one day running her father's Wyoming horse ranch.

History [ ]

Katherine "Katy" McLaughlin has dreams of running her father's Wyoming horse ranch, but her father, Rob, has other plans. He is grooming her older brother, Howard, to take over the ranch and sends Katy away to a private school where she feels like a misfit. Rob is having trouble understanding his daughter as she continually defies his authority to follow her own path. When she comes home for the summer, Katy is met with her father's disapproval because she did not finish a writing assignment at school, but is greeted by her mother, Nell, and Howard. Howard wants to attend college. While out riding, Katy finds a black wild mustang, and feels a connection with the horse. She sets off to tame "Flicka" (Swedish for little girl), despite her father's protests.

Flicka is captured during a roundup, and Rob asks Katy not to go near Flicka. Determined to prove she can run the ranch, Katy starts training Flicka at night. Flicka slowly warms to Katy and the two develop a close bond. However, Rob sells Flicka to the rodeo, leaving Katy devastated. Nell and Howard are furious at Rob about making the decision without including them. Howard then stands up to his father and says that he does not want the ranch, but Rob refuses to take Flicka back. In turn, Howard and Nell refuse to help Rob with the ranch, which he is now considering selling, since Howard does not want it. Katy starts writing about Flicka to escape her pain.

At the rodeo, Howard and Katy enter the competition that Flicka is being used in, hoping to get the horse back. Flicka runs from Katy until the girl calls her name. Rob tries to intervene, and Katy freezes at the sight of him. Howard boosts his sister onto Flicka, and the two escape. Katy becomes lost in the mountains, and allows Flicka to make her way towards the ranch. The family reconciles and searches for Katy as a fierce thunderstorm moves in. Katy and Flicka are attacked by a mountain lion. Flicka bolts, throwing Katy to the ground and the lion goes to attack her. Flicka protects Katy, but is badly wounded in the process. Katy binds Flicka's wounds and refuses to leave her in the storm, resulting in her developing a fever. Rob finds the two and brings a delirious Katy back to the house. As her fever spikes, Katy calls for Flicka as Nell tends to her. Rob thinks Flicka is mortally wounded and believes she should be put down. Overhearing the argument, a dazed Katy stumbles into the room and gives her father permission to "shoot us now."

Rob goes outside and begins to cry as he finally understands his daughter's feelings, her pain and what a prideful & selfish person he's been to his family over the years. A gunshot is heard and Katy bursts into tears, thinking Flicka is dead. The next morning, Nell finds Rob walking back to the house, supporting the injured Flicka. She runs outside to help and finds out that the gunshot was him shooting at the mountain lion. Both are stunned that Flicka is alive and decide not to put her down. Katy's fever breaks and she begins to recover. As he watches over his daughter, Rob reads the story that Katy had been writing about Flicka, eventually typing the story and sending it to the school so that Katy can pass for the year. When Katy wakes from the fever, she and Rob reconcile and he takes her to see Flicka. Rob apologizes to Howard and gives his son his blessing and Howard prepares for college. As a family, they decide to not sell the ranch, making it both a working ranch and a refuge for wild mustangs.

This version of the My Friend Flicka film and book series received mixed to negative praising Tim McGraw and Maria Bello's performances but criticizing the movie for its script, lacking classic, teen drama, plot, narration, unofficial characters (Which aren't even authorized in the books and original films), mild profanity and the removal of the beloved 10-year-old boy and official protagonist Ken McLaughlin out of the story for an unofficial female lead character instead unlike the original film franchise and its books.
1 Flicka (Film)
2 Flicka (Horse)
3 Nell McLaughlin

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Flicka (2006)

Dove review.

“Flicka” is a timeless tale of a family who struggles to make ends meet as they run the family ranch. The story centers around an already strained father/daughter relationship that is exacerbated by the introduction of a mustang whom Katie affectionately names “Flicka.”

While Katie is extremely disobedient in the majority of the film, there are also severe consequences. She is punished by her parents and also suffers a near death experience as a direct result of her actions. In the end, the family comes together and reconciles their differences as they learn to communicate their wants and desires with each other in a gentler, more appropriate manner.

This film has some very good lessons about respect, obedience and family expectations.

Dove Rating Details

Girl falls from horse causing injuries and bruises; horse attacked by cougar with much blood.

Boy-Girl Kiss

D-5; H-1; B-1; A-1; Frickin-1

Girl in bikini; boys swim without shirts.

Girl is disrespectful toward her parents, but there are consequences and important lessons learned.

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7 Flicka Movie Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

By: Author Henrietta Szathmary

Posted on Last updated: 07/17/2023

7 Flicka Movie Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

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Flicka (2006) is an American family drama popular with horse lovers. Included in our list of the best horse movies , Flicka is about a teenage girl Katy McLaughlin who encounters and tames a wild Mustang on her father’s Wyoming ranch.

Katy wants to be just like her father, Rob, when she grows up. Rob, however, has other plans for her and forbids Katy to work with the Mustang she named Flicka.

Through a series of adventures, Katy proves to her strict father that she is worthy of taking over the family ranch.

As we learn from the movie, “Flicka” is Swedish for “little girl.” In 2010, the first sequel to the movie was released, titled Flicka 2 . Another sequel followed in 2012, titled Flicka: Country Pride .

Here are seven interesting facts about the Flicka movie.

1. Flicka is Based on a Children’s Novel

The basic concept for Flicka came from Mary O’Hara’s children’s novel “My Friend Flicka,” first published in 1941. However, the movie and the book are quite different in many ways.

For starters, the book’s protagonist is Ken McLaughlin, a 10-year-old boy who lives on Goose Bar Ranch with his family. Like Katy, the boy returns from boarding school with failing grades, angering their father Rob. To make matters worse, his brother Howard can train a colt from his father’s herd while he is not.

In contrast to the movie, Rob reluctantly allows Ken to have a colt. He then chooses a wild sorrel filly and names her Flicka. Unfortunately, Flicka injures herself during her capture when she tries to jump a barbed-wire fence.

Ken spends the whole summer caring for the filly, eventually gaining her trust and affection. He also writes his overdue essay, which earns him that much-needed pass mark, just like Katy in the movie.

When Flicka’s health breaks down, Ken miraculously saves the filly and they will live happily ever after.

“My Friend Flicka” is actually the first book in a trilogy that also includes “Thunderhead” (1943) and “Green Grass of Wyoming” (1946). All three books were made into movies two years after their release. The original Flicka movie also inspired the TV series My Friend Flicka (1956-1957).

2. The Movie’s Lead Actress Never Worked With Horses Before

Alison Lohman is a former American actress who played the role of Katy McLaughlin in Flicka . However, unlike her character Katy, Lohman was far from being comfortable on horseback.

“Horseback riding was a lot harder than I thought,” she told thehorse.com . The fact that she had to portray a girl who grew up on horseback almost made Lohman quit her role.

The actress had never encountered horses before signing up for Flicka . Nor has she ever seen the original 1943 movie adaptation of Mary O’Hara’s novel. “My Little Pony’ was as far as it got for me,” she told SFGATE .

Flicka movie for horse lovers and equestrians

In order to learn the basics of handling and riding horses, Alison Lohman attended “Cowboy Camp” prior to filming. It was an intensive course that involved riding five hours a day for a month and going to the gym.

To further complicate matters, Lohman had no idea she would have to ride bareback until two weeks into filming. Thanks to head wrangler Rusty Hendrickson, she learned to ride well enough to shoot the bareback scenes for the movie.

While learning to ride was more frustrating than fun for Lohman, she also had some positive experiences. “Working on “Flicka, I got to see how beautiful and free these horses are and how important it is to connect to the land,” she told SFGATE .

In the final scene of the movie, Lohman was perfectly at ease on horseback, just like her character Katy. So much so that she even felt the desire to continue riding after production wrapped.

3. Several Horses Doubled for Flicka

Usually in movies, any main equine character is played by several horses. This is because some horses are better at standing around and looking good on camera, while others excel at riding or jumping.

In Flicka , it was no different. Each horse that doubled for the wild filly was purposely trained to carry out a specific role.

Having several “Flickas” didn’t make things easier for Alison Lohman, who had to form a believable connection with these animals. They also rode very differently, and it took the actress a long time to get comfortable riding them bareback.

Also Read: 17 Famous Horses in Movies and TV Series

4. Alison Lohman Was 11 Years Older Than Her Character Katy

Alison Lohman was 27 when she was cast as the 16-year-old Katy McLaughlin in Flicka . However, Lohman had no problem acting as a teenager, as we could all see on the big screen.

In her interview with SFGATE , Lohman revealed that she naturally looks and acts younger than her real age. She also described Katy as an “old soul,” saying how she and her character met in the middle.

Interestingly, the age difference wasn’t quite right between the parents and Katy either. Tim McGraw, who plays Rob, and Maria Bello, who plays Nell, are both the same age, only 12 years older than Alison Lohman. Those make-up artists have really done an excellent job!

5. Tim McGraw Co-wrote the Song “My Little Girl”

“My Little Girl” is one of the Flicka movie’s soundtracks, written by Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas. McGraw is an American country musician and actor who also plays the role of Katy’s father Rob in the movie.

The heartwarming song is about a father coming to terms with his daughter growing up. It received a nomination for Best Song from the Broadcast Film Critics Association in 2006. The song also reached #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

“My Little Girl” was actually the first song McGraw ever wrote. His incredible vocal talent made him one of the most popular country singers of the ’90s and early 2000s. Tim McGraw’s second album, “Not a Moment Too Soon,” was the best-selling country music album of 1994.

In 2001, McGraw and his celebrity wife Faith Hill received a Grammy Award for their performance singing “Let’s Make Love.” The song went on to become a hit in Canada and the United States and later worldwide.

Tim McGraw released many albums in the years to come. He even recorded a duet with Taylor Swift, who honored his music with her first-ever single, “Tim McGraw” (2006). The chorus of the song goes: “When you think Tim McGraw / I hope you think my favorite song.”

Also Read: 9 Facts You Didn’t Know About The Horse Whisperer Movie

6. The Cliff in Flicka’s Capture Was Created by Cgi

In the scene of Flicka’s capture, we see the Mustang driving Rob’s herd towards a cliff. Rob hurries after the filly on his horse, lassoing Flicka only moments before she reaches the edge of the abyss. Or so it seems.

In reality, of course, the horses were never in danger of falling. According to the American Humane Association (AHA), the cliff was created in post-production using computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Where we see the huge abyss on the screen is only a four-foot slope in real life. The filmmakers used white tape along the edge to serve as a visual marker. It came out rather convincing, don’t you think?

7. The Mountain Lion Never Shared the Set with Horses

Early on in the movie, there’s a scene where Katy is riding her trail horse in the forest. Suddenly, we see Flicka rearing up and scaring away a mountain lion, who was eyeing up Katy’s horse.

As revealed by the AHA , the lion and the horse were never on set at the same time. Experienced handlers cued the lion to take a few steps towards the camera to create the illusion of the animal approaching. The majestic scene of Flicka rearing was shot at a different time.

Similarly, the scene where the lion jumps on Flicka at the end of the movie was also shot separately. In reality, the lion’s big jump was a small leap from the branch onto a platform, guided by a bait stick.

The lion around Flicka’s neck was a stuffy that trainers secured with a strap. They then asked the horse to lay on her side, where they moved the stuffy around Flicka’s neck as if a real lion was attacking.

The filmmakers also used footage against a blue screen, where the live mountain lion was playing with a favorite toy covered with blue fabric.

Also, read:

8 Interesting Facts About Hidalgo (2004)
4 Facts About The Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Movie
20 Best Horse Movies of All Time

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DVD & Streaming
Drama , Kids

Content Caution

In Theaters

Alison Lohman as Katy McLaughlin; Tim McGraw as Rob McLaughlin; Maria Bello as Nell McLaughlin; Ryan Kwanten as Howard McLaughlin; Kaylee DeFer as Miranda

Home Release Date

Michael Mayer

Distributor

20th Century Fox

Movie Review

A headstrong teenage girl. An untamed wild mustang. And a stubborn-but-loving father. Mix them together and you get Flicka , the latest adaptation of Mary O’Hara’s beloved children’s story My Friend Flicka .

Nothing thrills Katy McLaughlin more than galloping across Wyoming’s mountain meadows on horseback. Boarding school, which she’s flunking out of as she daydreams about riding back home, certainly can’t compete. Despite her parents’ desire for her to prepare for college, the only thing Katy truly wants is to help her dad run Goose Creek Ranch Quarter Horses. And to ride, of course.

And ride she does, sneaking out for a midnight jaunt the first night she’s home. It proves a fateful choice, as she encounters a fierce mustang mare that captures her heart. Despite her father’s disapproval—he describes wild mustangs as “four-legged parasites”—the newly named Flicka winds up at the McLaughlin ranch.

Much to her consternation, though, Katy is forbidden to touch Flicka. Her father’s prescription for her summer: writing an essay she failed to complete at school. Dad’s word is law on the ranch, but Katy will have none of it. Each night she sneaks out to Flicka’s corral to train her, flagrantly flouting her father’s will.

When Dad finally learns the truth about Katy’s nighttime ventures, he wastes no time selling Flicka.

Katy’s hopes seem cruelly dashed until she learns of an opportunity to race Flicka against other wild horses in an upcoming rodeo—and perhaps win her back.

Positive Elements

Though the McLaughlins are not without some notable character flaws (some of them I’ll detail in “Other Negative Elements”), they love each other deeply. Rob McLaughlin is a no-nonsense, old-school style father and husband who asks for and expects absolute respect and obedience from his family. “Yes, sir” is the only appropriate response. His instruction to his strong-willed daughter? “Live under my roof, live under my rules.” When she willfully disobeys, Dad tries to stand his ground and tells her mother, “I’m not going to reward her bad behavior.”

But beneath his sometimes harsh responses beats the heart of a father who wants the best for his daughter. He longs for Katy to discipline the volatile passions that he believes may undermine her future. At his side is his wife, Nell, a wise woman who tries to mediate between him and their two children who don’t always understand. Given the financial pressure the ranch is under, it’s also clear that the couple is making a significant sacrifice to send their daughter to boarding school.

Siblings Howard and Katy share a kindred spirit, confiding secrets and doing their best to help one another whenever possible. They are allies, and each tries to help the other deal with a father whose ideas for their future are at odds with their own.

[ Spoiler Warning ] In a tear-jerking scene near the film’s conclusion, Dad realizes his stubborn resistance to his daughter’s desire to train Flicka wasn’t the right thing. As she lays unconscious with a high fever, he tells her, “The day you were born, they gave you to me. I thought my hands were too rough to hold you. You cried so much. I made all kinds of promises to you if you’d just go to sleep. But I forgot to keep those promises. I’m sorry. If you’ll forgive me, I’ll tell you every day how proud of you I am.” In the end, Dad sees that just because he’s made up his mind about what his children should grow up to be, doesn’t mean it’s actually in their best interests. So he gradually learns to accept them for who they really are.

Spiritual Elements

When Katy asks her brother why he took movie posters down in his bedroom, he replies jokingly, “I’m moving into my Zen phase.”

Sexual Content

Howard and his girlfriend, Miranda, share a deep kiss. While swimming, Miranda wears a bikini; Katy’s swimming-hole attire consists of shorts and tank top. This scene and another call attention to Howard’s bare chest. At other times Katy is shown in shoulder- and cleavage-revealing tops; Mom is briefly seen in a nightie. Sneaking a peek at Katy taking a bath, the camera glimpses her bare shoulder and, as she turns, a bit of the side of her breast. Jack says that his aftershave lets women know he’s sensitive and a sexy beast. (Katy tells him he stinks.)

At a rodeo dance, Rob and Nell McLaughlin touch each other playfully and affectionately; that contact (and a few teasing comments exchanged at other times) is depicted as a healthy expression of their intimacy.

Violent Content

A mountain lion pounces upon Flicka from an overhanging tree limb, knocking the horse to the ground. (Katy has already been thrown off.) Katy then scares off the big cat by throwing rocks at it. Flicka is obviously wounded badly, but her cuts are hard to see clearly because it’s dark outside. Several other shots also depict Katy being thrown from Flicka and other horses. Similarly, about a dozen rodeo cowboys get ejected from their precarious perches atop angry bulls and broncos. During Flicka’s early training, the wild mustang kicks Katy in the back and knocks her down.

Crude or Profane Language

A handful of mild profanities pepper Flicka ‘s script. Characters utter “oh god” a half-dozen times and “oh my lord” once. We hear one use each of “h—” and “a–,” and two instances of “d–n.” Milder interjections include “dang,” “heck” and “freaking.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Other negative elements.

Katy’s willful disobedience of her father is the film’s central conflict. And it treats Katy’s desire to work with Flicka as a justifiable reason for her rebellious behavior. She never really submits to her dad’s directives. Along the way, Mom and Howard discover what she’s doing, and in their own way enable and protect her.

Instead of disciplining his daughter when he discovers what she’s done, Dad sells Flicka—a particularly harsh response. That painful scene includes both Katy and Howard hitting their father, and Mom telling Dad that he’s made a mistake by not consulting her in this knee-jerk decision. Dad eventually takes responsibility for the way he made that decision, but Katy and Howard aren’t similarly held accountable.

Flicka is about two relationships: A girl and her horse, and a girl and her dad. Just as Flicka’s restless spirit resists domestication, so Katy resists her father’s discipline at virtually every turn.

We, of course, are supposed to sympathize with Katy’s plight. After all, what kind of curmudgeon would deny a passionate young woman the relationship with her horse she so deeply desires? We know that she’s violating the letter of her father’s law. But the film invites us to give her a pass for this “understandable” transgression of the heart, just as every character in the film does—even her father, eventually. In the process, the film poses the significant question of whether it’s worth sacrificing relationship for the sake of rules, however well-intended those rules might be. Ultimately, Flicka answers that question with a resounding no .

Still, Katy’s stubborn rebelliousness is a real—if navigable—issue that families who see this engaging story will want to talk about. When parents’ desires and instructions are at odds with their children’s, what does it look like to work through that process constructively? Flicka ‘s depiction of the process is at best imperfect and highly romanticized.

Adam R. Holz

After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

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Common sense media reviewers.

Book-based movie has some innuendo, violence.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Has some good lessons about respect, obedience, fa

Katy is rebellious and headstrong, and these quali

A girl falls from a horse, causing injuries, bruis

Some sexual innuendo: At dinner, a cowboy in his l

Infrequent profanity: "ass," "damn," "hell." Some

Budweiser, Ford.

Some drinking and smoking in a bar scene.

Positive Messages

Has some good lessons about respect, obedience, family expectations, challenges in owning and training a horse, the challenges that cowboys, cowgirls, their families face when owning hundreds of acres of land and trying to make ends meet.

Positive Role Models

Katy is rebellious and headstrong, and these qualities go far in her desire to tame, ride, befriend Flicka.

Violence & Scariness

A girl falls from a horse, causing injuries, bruises. A mountain lion attacks Flicka, causing her to be critically injured. Debate on whether or not Flicka should be "put down" or treated for her painful injuries. Cowboys thrown off horses during a rodeo.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Some sexual innuendo: At dinner, a cowboy in his late teens asks his friend, "You gonna put your brand on that little schoolgirl this summer?" "Flicka," initially, is a slang term young cowboys use for attractive young woman who hasn't fully grown into her beauty. Passionate kissing between boyfriend, girlfriend. Very brief nudity: part of female breast seen when teen girl tends to wound on her back in the bathtub. Before riding home on horses, husband tells his wife, "Last one back is naked first." Some scenes of girls scantily clad in bikini tops, cutoff jean shorts.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Infrequent profanity: "ass," "damn," "hell." Some sexual innuendo.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Drinking, drugs & smoking.

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Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Flicka is a 2006 drama inspired by the classic book My Friend Flicka . While it's for the most part a wholesome family movie with heart that's guaranteed to appeal to horse-loving kids, there are some scenes of questionable content for younger kids. Some of the violence might be too much: A mountain lion attacks Flicka, causing grave injury, and subsequent scenes feature a passionate debate as to whether they should "put down" Flicka to spare her further pain and suffering from her injuries, or try to nurse her back to health. This mountain lion also tries to attack the lead character, but Flicka protects her. While trying to train Flicka, the lead character is thrown off the horse and Flicka kicks her with her front legs, causing the lead character, Katy, to sustain injuries on her back. Very brief nudity (part of the side of a breast) is shown when Katy tends to her wounds while in the bathtub. Some sexual innuendo is made: An older teen cowboy asks his friend, "You gonna put your brand on that little schoolgirl this summer?" Before racing home on their horses, a husband says to his wife, "Last one back gets naked first." Passionate kissing is seen between an older teen boyfriend and girlfriend. Although Katy's rebellious nature is at the core of the story, there are consequences to her actions, and her family comes together at the end and learns to communicate in a respectful way. The movie has infrequent mild profanity -- "ass," "damn," "hell" -- and some drinking and smoking in a bar scene. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

Parents say (5)
Kids say (13)

Based on 5 parent reviews

perfect for the horse lovers

Great family movie but also emotionally intense, what's the story.

Alison Lohman stars as Katy McLaughlin, a headstrong 16-year-old who lives with her family on a modern, working ranch. She's the only daughter in a long line of ranchers, and she'd prefer to be on the ranch instead of away at boarding school most of the year. Her dad, Rob ( Tim McGraw ), is grooming her brother, Howard (Ryan Kwanten), to take over the ranch, but he'd rather go to college. Rob wants Katy to go to college, while her mom ( Maria Bello ) sees Katy's independent spirit for what it is. Home from school, Katy catches a wild mustang and names it Flicka, decides the filly is her chance to prove that she's responsible, and begs her dad to let her tame it. But he sees nothing but trouble from the untamed animal, and is busy trying to save the ranch. He doesn't see that Katy and Flicka (and he himself!) are very much alike, shunning authority and not about to give up their freedom without a fight. Going against her father's wishes, Katy sets out to break through to Flicka and transform her into a riding horse. In the process, the horse manages to bring the family back together.

Is It Any Good?

Sweeping landscapes, save-the-farm storyline, beautiful horses, rebellious girl -- it's been done before, but it's an appealing story that never goes out of style, especially for younger viewers. And even though the original novel is half a century old, its story of a hard-working family eking out a living on the farm and trying to protect their heritage has never been more relevant. Watching this movie will bring kids back to nature (and away from their video games) and help teach them that wide-open spaces need to be preserved and honored, not covered with malls and condos.

Also, the characters in this movie aren't one-dimensional. Katy is headstrong and opinionated -- she knows what she wants and goes after it -- but she's also girly, showing that it's OK to be both. Likewise, Rob isn't a bad guy. He just has big dreams for his daughter, which is why he wants her to go to college, instead of being saddled with a ranch that may or may not be around for much longer.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the best way to communicate. Why is it better to get things out in the open instead of letting them fester?

Why is it important to see other people for who they truly are, rather than what you want them to be? Also, should Katy have adopted the wild horse against her father's wishes?

Why are horse movies so popular? What's the appeal? Which ones are your favorites?

Movie Details

In theaters : October 19, 2006
On DVD or streaming : February 6, 2007
Cast : Alison Lohman , Maria Bello , Tim McGraw
Director : Michael Mayer
Inclusion Information : Female actors
Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
Genre : Family and Kids
Topics : Horses and Farm Animals
Run time : 94 minutes
MPAA rating : PG
MPAA explanation : some mild language.
Last updated : October 25, 2023

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What are the words the Katy's essay in the movie flicka?

I live on top of the World in the never summer mountains of Wyoming , 8,000 feet closer to the sky. In my mountains, when spring finally comes to save me from a perpetual winter the world comes to life again and I remember what it is I'm here for. I'm the only daughter in along line of ranchers, and when we let our horses out for the first time every spring, I love to watch them rediscover the world. I can see in them an expression of my own restless spirit. Charged with an appetite for adventure they take to the land without hesitation. They are pure power. When I see them running wild I often think of the first horses and how they were the true pioneers of America. The stories we here of how the west was one were all lies. The history of the west was written by the horse. Wherever a settler left his foot print there was a hoof print right beside it. Man came further and further west to stake their claims on the great American wilderness, but they encountered a strength that could not be tamed: wild horses. The settlers called them parasites that could strip the land and starve their own herd. They couldn't domesticate them so they destroyed them. Isolated and hungry they were on their way to disappearing from the face of the earth. Sometimes when the lie disappears an after image remains, just for a moment mustangs are an after image. No better than ghosts, hardly there at all. No one really wants them not ranchers, not city people. That's their destiny; let them disappear once and for all with all the other misfits, loners and relics of the wilderness no one cares about anymore. Lucky for us a few mustangs survived, hidden away in the mountains. We need to protect them for them, for they are the hope for some kind of living memory of what the promise of America used to be, and could be again. I believer there is a force in this world that lives beneath the surface; something primitive and wild that awakens when we need an extra push just to survive, like wildflowers that bloom after a wildfire burns the forest black. Most people are afraid of it and keep it buried deep inside them, but there will always be a few people who have the courage to love what is untamed inside of us; one of those men is my father. There was once a time when Americans came west to discover their destiny. Today they seem to move around in every which where, restless and unsettled, but I think they're still looking for the same thing: a place where they can be optimistic about the future, a place that helps them be who they really want to be, so they can feel that this life makes since. A place where they can feel what I feel when I'm riding Flicka, because when we're riding all I feel is…free. These are the words to the essay in the beginning of the movie, the anger essay in the middle after her dad sold Flicka, and the inspirational speech at the very end of the movie!!!

I live on top of the world in the never summer mountains of Wyoming, 8000 feet closer to the sky. In my mountains, when spring finally comes to save me from a perpetual winter, the world comes to life again and I remember what it is I'm here for. I'm the only daughter in a long line of ranchers and when we let our horses out for the first time every spring, I love to watch them re-discover the world. I can see in them an expression of my own restless spirit. Charged with an appetite for adventure they take to the land without hesitation. They are pure power. When I see them running wild I often think of the first horses and how they were the true pioneers of America.

The stories we hear of how the west was won were all lies. The history of the west was written by the horse. Wherever a settler left his foot print there was a hoof print right beside it. Man came further and further west to stake their claims on the great American wilderness, but they encountered a strength that could not be tamed: wild horses. The settlers called them parasites that could strip the land and starve their own herd. They couldn't domesticate them so they destroyed them. Isolated and hungry they were on their way to disappearing from the face of the earth. Sometimes when the lie disappears, an after image remains. Just for a moment, mustangs were that after image. No better than ghosts, hardly there at all. No one really wants them. Not ranchers, not city people. That's their destiny; let them disappear once and for all with all the other misfits, loners and relics of the wilderness no one cares about anymore. Lucky for us a few mustangs survived, hidden away in the mountains. We need to protect them, for they are the hope for some kind of living memory of what the promise of America used to be, and could be again.

I believer there is a force in this world that lives beneath the surface; something primitive and wild that awakens when we need an extra push just to survive, like wildflowers that bloom after a wildfire burns the forest black. Most people are afraid of it and keep it buried deep inside them, but there will always be a few people who have the courage to love what is untamed inside of us. One of those men is my father. There was once a time when Americans came west to discover their destiny. Today they seem to move around in every which where, restless and unsettled. But I think they're still looking for the same thing: a place where they can be optimistic about the future, a place that helps them be who they really want to be so they can feel that this life makes sense. A place where they can feel what I feel when I'm riding Flicka, because when we're riding, all I feel is…free.

Add your answer:

How many words do you need for a 6th grade essay?

300 words should be in a 4th grade essay

Do all words count in an essay word count even the letter A or I alone?

What words do not count on an essay?

How many words does an essay have?

It depends...It really depends on the theme;but first the requirement of the teacher or...whoever asks you to do the essay. Could be.. 100 words to 1000 words.

How do you cut out 300 words from an essay?

The best way to cut out 300 words from an essay is to reevaluate the entire essay. Break down each paragraph and use the process of elimination to weed out unwanted content.

Why it is important to avoid the use of repetition words or phrases in academic essay?

Why ie it important to avoid the use of repetition words or phrases in academic essay

Essay on cruelty to animals of 150 words?

You need to write your essay.

Do all words count in an essay?

If you are referring to a required length of an essay (1500 words, etc.), quotes generally do not count towards your total number of words.

Do a and the count as words in an essay?

What are some words that you can use to start the beginning of the first paragraph in an essay.

You can start the beginning of a essay with the words, 'the, what, our, you and it.' Try not to start you beginning paragraph with words like 'and, but, and because.'

Write an essay in about 250 words arguing for or against the culture of tattoo?

How many pages is a 2000 words double space essay?

about 50-60 depends on the essay

Do all words count on an essay?

How do you change words for my essay.

grab a whiteout

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Flicka (2006)

Alison lohman: katy mclaughlin.

Photos (13)
Quotes (18)

Photos

Maria Bello and Alison Lohman in Flicka (2006)

Quotes

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : The stories we hear about how the West was won are all lies. The history of the West was written by the horse. Wherever a settler left his footprint there was a hoof print beside it. Men came further and further west to stake their claim on the great American wilderness. But they encountered a strength that couldn't be tamed - wild horses. Mustangs. The settlers called them parasites that would strip the land and starve their own herds. They couldn't domesticate them so they destroyed them. Isolated and hungry, they were on their way to disappearing from the face of the earth. Sometimes when the light disappears an afterimage remains - just for a second. Mustangs are an afterimage of the West, no better then ghosts, hardly there at all. No one really wants them, not ranchers, not city people - that's their destiny. Let them disappear once and for all, along with all the other misfits, loners, and relics of a wilderness no one cares about anymore. Lucky for us a few mustangs survived, hidden away in the mountains. We need to protect them, for they are the hope of some kind of living memory of what the promise of America used to be - and could be again. I believe there is a force in this world that lives beneath the surface, something primitive and wild that awakens when you need an extra push just to survive, like wildflowers that bloom after fire turns the forest black. Most people are afraid of it, and keep it buried deep inside themselves. But there will always be a few people who have the courage to love what is untamed inside us. One of those men is my father. There was once a time when Americans came West to discover their destiny. Today they seem to move around every which way, restless and unsettled. But I think they're still looking for the same thing - a place where they can be optimistic about the future, a place that helps them to be who they really want to be, where they can feel that this life makes sense, a place where they can feel what I feel when I'm riding Flicka - because when we're riding, all I feel... is free.

[last lines]

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : [narration] I believe there is a force in this world that lives beneath the surface, something primitive and wild that awakens when you need an extra push just to survive, like wildflowers that bloom after a fire turns the forest black. Most people are afraid of it and keep it buried deep inside themselves. But there will always be a few people who have the courage to love what is untamed inside us. One of those men is my father. There was once a time when Americans came west to discover their destiny. Today, they seem to move around every which way, restless and unsettled. But I think they're still looking for the same thing - a place where they can be optimistic about the future, a place that helps them to be who they really want to be, where they can feel that this life makes sense, a place where they can feel what I feel when I'm riding Flicka - because when we're riding, all I feel... is free.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Are you going to kill Flicka?

Rob McLaughlin : I'm just going to have a look at her, baby.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : It's okay, Daddy. You can shoot us.

[first lines]

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : [narration] I live on top of the world... in the Never Summer Mountains of Wyoming, 8,000 feet closer to the sky. In my mountains when spring finally comes to save me from a perpetual winter, the world comes to life again and I remember what it is I'm here for. I'm the only daughter in a long line of ranchers and when we let our horses out for the first time every spring, I love to watch them rediscover the world. I can see in them an expression of my own restless spirit. Charged with an appetite for adventure, they take to the land without hesitation. They are pure power. When I see them running wild and free, I often think of the first horses and how they were the true pioneers of America.

Howard McLaughlin : Hey, keep your voice down!

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Nobody can hear us way out here.

Howard McLaughlin : You didn't know? He's got hidden cameras and microphones everywhere!

[Pretends to use a walkie-talkie in the fence post]

Howard McLaughlin : Can you read me, Dad? Over. What's that? Yeah, yeah Dad, I'll tell her. Okay. Over and out. He said he doesn't need me. He said you're the one he needs... he just doesn't realize it yet.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Calm down, Flicka.

Nell McLaughlin : You named her?

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Flicka. That is the word, isn't it?

Gus : Oh, yeah. Beautiful um... young girl.

Jack : Well, you got the girl part right.

Howard McLaughlin : You can have Chariot.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : It's not the same thing.

Howard McLaughlin : Well, four legs and a tail. Food goes in the front, out the back.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : He doesn't listen when he's this mad!

Nell McLaughlin : You know what they say: "Anger is just fear on the way out."

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Nice try. He's not afraid of anything.

Nell McLaughlin : I don't know, you could scare the heck out of anybody.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Yeah, right.

Nell McLaughlin : When you were three, you climbed out of bed, unlatched the kitchen door, and walked outside. He found you in Lightning's stall. That horse was crazy, he could've killed you and you were laughing.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : I don't remember that.

Nell McLaughlin : Yeah, well he does. Parents have this kind of... selective memory. Sometimes I think I can't remember what I did yesterday and then I swear I can remember every injury, every close-call, every 'another inch and they could've been killed' that ever happened to my children. Try and understand what it feels like to be responsible for something you love so much.

Rick Koop : Sweetie, everything changes in this life. You know, one day some lucky guy's gonna marry you. What are you gonna do if he doesn't want a ranch?

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Break off the engagement.

Rick Koop : [laughs] Oh, wait 'til you fall in love, sweetie.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Well, then I guess I won't fall in love.

Jack : [Jack finds Katie in the corral taming Flicka] You're not supposed to go in there!

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : What's it to you?

Jack : You could get hurt. Besides, it's what your father says.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : How long are you gonna be afraid of my father?

Jack : Um. Forever. And you? Why are you sneaking out here in the middle of the night if you're not scared?

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Because I have to.

Jack : The, I'll let nobody stop you.

Rob McLaughlin : [to Nell] You're not protecting her, you're crippling her and she'll end up being as useless as that dang mustang.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : [to Rob] Flicka isn't useless! She wants to learn.

Rob McLaughlin : No, she doesn't. You want something that doesn't exist. It's time you see her for what she is.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : I know what she is!

Rob McLaughlin : How do you know a dang thing about that creature?

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Because we're the same!

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : [to Rob about seeing a mountain lion] I don't know where I saw it exactly, but it was there.

Jack : Did you see Sasquatch, too?

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Did somebody ask for your opinion?

[Jack shuts up]

Rob McLaughlin : Help me understand something, Katie. He said he gave you the topic to your final essay in advance, and you turned in a blank paper. Not one word, and two hours for the exam.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : I wrote it in my head-just didn't put it down.

Rob McLaughlin : In your head.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Wouldn't have made a difference anyway. They just want us to spit back exactly what they wanna hear. I have an opinion, it's just not their opinion.

Rob McLaughlin : Well, their opinion is that you should repeat the year, just throw it away. Do you realize what this family does without so that you can go to a private school? Truck's passing 200,000 miles. Well, let's see if it'll do another 50. The barn roof's about to blow away. We'll patch it again for the umpteenth time and all so you can go to a fancy boarding school. But I'll go along because your mother wants you to go to college.

Nell McLaughlin : Hey, your father wants it, too.

Rob McLaughlin : Well, now we'll have to worry if she'll even graduate.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : [tearfully, to Howard about him leaving for Boston University] And now you're going away.

Howard McLaughlin : Come on. I'm changing time zones, not solar systems.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : The people have spoken.

Howard McLaughlin : No, the inmates have taken over the asylum.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : [to Rob] But you said if I don't get back into school then...

Rob McLaughlin : Yes, that's what I said and I meant it.

Howard McLaughlin : So Dad sent them your essay.

Rob McLaughlin : Told 'em I didn't know much about writing, but I sure as heck know about the west and so does my daughter and it's right there in her essay. Every opinionated, ornery, hot-blooded part of it.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : What did they say?

Nell McLaughlin : What does anyone say to your father?

Howard McLaughlin , Nell McLaughlin : Yes, sir!

[all laugh]

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : A trim, split ends. That's it.

Nell McLaughlin : Sweetheart, just a few inches for the summer.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : No.

Nell McLaughlin : You stop it. I get better reasoned arguments from the hens.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Short hair makes me look like a boy.

Nell McLaughlin : No. That would be impossible, you're so beautiful. What was that thing that uh, Gus said? You're a... a flicka.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : A flicka?

Nell McLaughlin : Yeah. 'Pretty girl'.

[changes the subject]

Nell McLaughlin : So how's your friend Stephanie?

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Shallow. Vain.

[Nell laughs]

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : The usual.

Nell McLaughlin : Since when?

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : Since Eric. Or was it Justin? I lost track.

Nell McLaughlin : Well, you never know what'll happen. People can surprise you.

[pours bucket of water on Katie's head]

Nell McLaughlin : Surprise!

[Katie shrieks and chases Nell, both are laughing]

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : [to Nell] That's the wild horse. Isn't she beautiful?

Nell McLaughlin : Well, she's something, that's for sure.

Rob McLaughlin : That's a dangerous animal.

Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : She's just scared.

Nell McLaughlin : I'd say she's about two years-old.

Rob McLaughlin : Yeah, two years wild.

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Cat People Horror

While the film is not realistic in the slightest, it foments an astringent malaise within the mind of the spectator. From the surface, the film is not horrific; we need not avert our eyes away from the screen, instead we are magnetically pulled in, intrigued by Irena’s catlike idiosyncrasies and innocent disposition played to perfection by the beautiful Simone Simon. We sympathize with Irena who steals the screen and moreover, steals our gaze as a spectator, making it one with her own; this gaze then becomes threatening to the film’s other characters as they begin to denounce her towards the end of the film. Irena’s inner monster becomes fearsome to the spectator because it resides within the human unconscious, where feelings of sexual desire and violence run rampant. When Irena returns to the zoo towards the end of the film to steal the key to the panthers cage, she is in essence, accepting her unconscious desires, feminine sexuality and animalistic instincts.

Film: Tapping A Little Heart Out

The best scene in this film was when Jerry was tapping his little heart out alone in his hotel room. Effecting Dale’s nap. I like this scene because I dislike dale, she was extremely rude. It was good he disturbed her. All he wanted to do was tap and when she came down he apologized and sweet to her, but she was still rude and has no compassion when all he was trying to do is enjoy himself. She should of been a harder

Nausicäa Of The Wind

Miyazaki’s second feature film, Nausicäa of the Valley of the Wind (1984), was the first film of his to feature a female protagonist. Nausicäa is a princess of the last functional kingdom in a post-apocalyptic world. Despite her role and duties, she cannot ignore her desire to find a solution to curing the Toxic Jungle that grows outside of her kingdom in order to better the world. Nausicäa continuously takes charge and thinks on her feet, has an adventurous spirit, and manages to find solution after solution to the conflicts in the narrative. Everything she faces she does with courage and selflessness, even when she herself feels fear. While Miyazaki portrayed feminism in Nausicaä primarily through the so-called character’s compassion as well

Analysis Of The Mustang

The Mustang (2015) is a Turkish-French film directed by Deniz Gamze Erguven. The movie focuses on how the lives of five orphaned sisters change when they come of age and their struggle for freedom against their conservative family and culture.

Presenting the Torn or the Decision Movie Idea Essay

I have come up with the idea to create a movie based on the core structure and themes of the play Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward. This movie will be a major romance and more shifted toward gaining the public’s acclaim rather than achieving critical success. The audience we will be targeting are young teenage girls and women. Romantic movies have always been primarily liked by females. It gives them an excuse to get together with their friends and to dream about getting swept of their feet by their dream guy. Women are known to be very emotional and this romantic movie will have them laughing at some scenes and crying at others. They will fall in love with Cameron’s (protagonist) beautiful personality and show compassion

Emotional Impact Of The Film In Furious 7 : 7 Film Review

Furious 7 (dir. James Wan, 2015) is the seventh movie in the Fast and the Furious franchise. This film centers on a close knit team of individuals who are being contracted by the government to obtain a hacker and her creation "God's eye" from a terrorist organization that kidnapped her. It is a mutually beneficial plan to rescue that technology because it will help the team capture Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) who is out for revenge against them. Posthumous performances of Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) were created throughout the film to complete the movie because Walker died before production was complete. The motifs in Furious 7 of leaving without saying goodbye and "seeing you again," work to create an emotional impact for the spectator which causes them to accept the believability of the posthumous performance and keep it from delving into the uncanny valley. In VFX-driven films the emotional impact of the VFX is sometimes more important for believability than a perfectly realistic digital effect.

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The Movie: Flicka

Flicka Flicka is a heart wrenching movie about the love of family, nature, and horses. This movie shows you the summer of a ranchers daughter. Katy McLauglin (Alison Lohman) is the teenage daughter of a horse rancher who is looking to hand over the reins of the family business. While her family is on the ranch, Katy is studing at a private school feeling like her own kind of misfit. One day, while out riding, Katy finds a beautiful black mustang and instantly feels an emotional connection with the wild horse.

Katy begs her father, Rob McLaughlin (Tim McGraw), to let her keep the animal but he is convinced that the mustang would be bad for both his thoroughbred horses and his daughter. But Katy is certain she can break the strong-willed mustang and make her a champion. Katy then names her Flicka, a name meaning " beautiful, young girl". As she struggles to tame the headstrong Flicka, she also tries to prove to her father that she knows horses as well as he does and that she's every bit as capable of running the ranch as her brother. The fight for respect and the love of an animal will make you want a ranchers life.

And a beautiful horse named Flicka. Flicka shows you the journey that a young teenage girl takes to earn the respect that she rightfully deserves. Katys story is like many stories of women over the years. The fight to be seen as an equal and not as a servent. As we all may know in the United States men had the right to vote long before women did. Women fought for the chance to vote for years. Some, like Susan B. Anthony, were put in jail or shunned for fighting for this right. It took tell World War I for women to recieve this right, but with a couple restrictions.

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Susan B. Anthony was born February 15, 1820 in Adams, Massachusetts. She was brought up in a Quaker family with long activist traditions. Early in her life she developed a sense of justice. After teaching for fifteen years, she became active in temperance. Because she was a woman, she was not allowed to speak at temperance meetings. This experience led her to join the women's rights movement in 1852. Soon after, she dedicated her life to woman suffrage. Ignoring the cruel works and abuse, Anthony traveled and lectured across the nation for the vote.

She also campaigned for the abolition of slavery, the right for women to own their own property and keep their earnings, and she advocated for women's labor organizations. In 1900, Anthony persuaded the University of Rochester to admit women. Anthony, who never married, was aggressive and compassionate by nature. She had a strong mind and a great ability to fight for what she believed in. She remained active until her death on March 13, 1906. In the movie, Flicka, the McLaughlin family fights to keep their beloved ranch.

With the trouble to pay the bills, big time bankers have come to the ranch hoping to talk the family into selling the ranch and all the land with it. With the knowledge that selling means the desturction of their lovely home and the land surrounding it, they fight to make all the money they can. Needing the cash, Rob McLaughlin sees the perfect chance to earn money and get his daughter away from the parasite that she calls Flicka. Rob calls up the head chairman for the local rodeo and makes the deal to sell off the beautiful mustang. When Katy finds out that her horse was sold she's heartbroken and furious.

But she's not about to give up. With the hope to get her horse back Katy enters the Bucking Broncos contest in the rodeo in hope to win and use the money to buy back her horse. After realizing that it wasn't going to be as simple as she thought she takes her horse and rides her into the woods. With night coming and a serious storm, Katy and Flicka are in trouble. After finally getting onto some of their land Katy feels safe. Just as she was about to ride herself and Ficka the rest of the way home they are attacked by a mountain lion. Flicka is able to scare away the cat but sustains major injuries in the process.

Once found Katy is brought home but has fallen sick. While Katy fights for her life, Flicka fights for hers. Then Rob decides that it isn't fair for an animal to suffer. Then Katy speaks the most heartbreaking line in the story saying "it's ok daddy, you can kill us". The next morning Katys temperature has broken and Flicka is safe and healing. The two found each other at the moment of need and have beaten all the odds. This beautiful movie distributed by 20th Century Fox, shows viewers what it takes for a woman to fight for her right and what she loves.

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WORTH WATCHING

Watch this: fascinating 'why it feels like the end of vfx' video essay.

by Alex Billington May 28, 2024 Source: YouTube

"It's a game called, 'Find What's Wrong With This Shot.'" Here is another must watch new video about the current state of the VFX industry in cinema. It's a 20 minute video essay created by Crafthive called " VFX r u ok? Why It Feels Like the End of VFX ." The creators take a cold, hard look at what's happening with visual effects (aka CGI and/or VFX) and all of the problems right now, from creative executives to financial struggles to bad filmmakers, and everything else going on. They explain that nowadays VFX has been turned into a commodity, they're "more artisan than artists" now, which isn't a good thing. Yes they even touch on A.I., crypto, Marvel, and all these other dangerous topics. It's not looking good... If you're wondering why, this is a great place to start. This video is also a nice complement to the 'No CGI' is Really Just Invisible CGI video essay series that debuted last year. The Phil Tippett quote they include in this (8:55) is fantastic. I'm glad they're talking about all this and being so blunt about how screwed up the whole movie industry is now.

Thanks to VFX maestro Todd Vaziri ( follow him here ) for the tip on this video. Intro from YouTube : "This video has been a long time coming. A year post strikes and our industry is still struggling to recover. Many of us are struggling to find work and make sense of everything going on. We've definitely been battling a lot of career anxiety lately... We delve into the issues the industry had for years prior, and all of the current threats to our industry like strikes, tax credit reductions, the trend of downplaying CGI (No CGI) and AI." This video essay on the VFX industry is created by Crafthive based in Canada - "just two cool 3D Artists Doing Our Best." They are described as a "Montreal-based VFX Outsourcing Company." Follow Crafthive on IG @crafthivedesign or visit their official website or watch more of their videos on their YouTube . For more on the current state of the VFX industry, watch these videos . Enjoy more video essays here . Your thoughts?

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The Enduring Charm of “Miss Congeniality”: a Cinematic Gem

This essay is about the enduring appeal of the film “Miss Congeniality,” starring Sandra Bullock as an unpolished FBI agent who goes undercover in a beauty pageant. It highlights the film’s humor, character development, and subtle critique of societal expectations regarding femininity. The essay discusses how the movie balances comedy with deeper messages about authenticity and self-acceptance. It also praises the performances of the supporting cast, especially Michael Caine and Heather Burns, and emphasizes the film’s positive portrayal of personal growth and inner beauty. Overall, “Miss Congeniality” is celebrated for its unique blend of entertainment and thoughtful social commentary.

How it works

“Miss Congeniality,” a film released in 2000, has etched itself into popular culture as a delightful and enduring comedy. Starring Sandra Bullock as the unpolished FBI agent Gracie Hart, the movie is more than just a humorous take on beauty pageants. It offers a unique blend of comedy, character development, and a subtle critique of societal expectations regarding femininity and professionalism.

At its core, “Miss Congeniality” is a fish-out-of-water story. Gracie Hart is an FBI agent known for her rough edges and tomboyish demeanor.

When a terrorist threat targets the Miss United States beauty pageant, Hart is reluctantly transformed into a contestant. The premise alone sets the stage for a series of comedic mishaps and heartfelt moments, as Hart navigates the world of pageantry with the grace of a bull in a china shop. Bullock’s portrayal of Gracie Hart is both charming and relatable, striking a perfect balance between awkwardness and determination.

The film’s humor is one of its most memorable aspects. It deftly uses physical comedy and witty dialogue to highlight the absurdities of beauty pageants while also celebrating the camaraderie and spirit of the contestants. Scenes such as Hart’s training montage, where she learns to walk in heels and apply makeup, are both hilarious and endearing. These moments underscore the stark contrast between her FBI persona and the polished pageant contestants, generating laughter while also fostering a sense of empathy for her struggles.

Beyond the comedy, “Miss Congeniality” offers a deeper commentary on the pressures women face to conform to societal standards of beauty and behavior. The character of Gracie Hart challenges these norms by remaining true to herself, even as she undergoes a physical transformation. The film subtly critiques the notion that a woman’s worth is tied to her appearance, highlighting instead the importance of authenticity, intelligence, and resilience. This message is particularly resonant in today’s context, where discussions about gender roles and expectations continue to evolve.

The supporting cast of “Miss Congeniality” also plays a crucial role in its success. Michael Caine’s performance as Victor Melling, the pageant coach tasked with transforming Hart, adds a layer of sophistication and humor to the film. His character’s initial exasperation with Hart’s lack of refinement gradually gives way to a genuine mentor-student relationship, providing some of the film’s most heartwarming moments. Additionally, the camaraderie among the pageant contestants, particularly Hart’s friendship with Miss Rhode Island, played by Heather Burns, highlights the supportive bonds that can form even in competitive environments.

“Miss Congeniality” also deserves credit for its exploration of personal growth and self-acceptance. Throughout the film, Hart’s character arc is marked by her gradual acceptance of her femininity without compromising her identity as a capable and tough FBI agent. This balance is emblematic of a broader message: that strength and sensitivity, professionalism and personal charm, are not mutually exclusive traits. The film encourages viewers to embrace their multifaceted identities, celebrating the diversity of experiences and qualities that define us as individuals.

The film’s conclusion, where Hart earns the title of “Miss Congeniality,” encapsulates its central themes. It’s not her beauty or poise that wins her this accolade, but her kindness, courage, and unwavering authenticity. This resolution reinforces the film’s celebration of inner beauty and integrity over superficial appearances.

“Miss Congeniality” remains a beloved film not only for its humor and heart but also for its progressive message about self-acceptance and the value of authenticity. Sandra Bullock’s portrayal of Gracie Hart has left an indelible mark, making her character an icon of strength and individuality in popular culture. The film’s ability to entertain while also offering thoughtful commentary on societal expectations ensures its place as a cinematic gem that continues to resonate with audiences of all ages.

In summary, “Miss Congeniality” is more than a comedy about beauty pageants; it’s a film that champions the importance of being true to oneself in the face of external pressures. Through its humor, memorable characters, and insightful social critique, it offers a refreshing take on the journey to self-acceptance and the celebration of inner beauty.

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The Enduring Charm of "Miss Congeniality": A Cinematic Gem. (2024, May 28). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/the-enduring-charm-of-miss-congeniality-a-cinematic-gem/

"The Enduring Charm of "Miss Congeniality": A Cinematic Gem." PapersOwl.com , 28 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/the-enduring-charm-of-miss-congeniality-a-cinematic-gem/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Enduring Charm of "Miss Congeniality": A Cinematic Gem . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-enduring-charm-of-miss-congeniality-a-cinematic-gem/ [Accessed: 29 May. 2024]

"The Enduring Charm of "Miss Congeniality": A Cinematic Gem." PapersOwl.com, May 28, 2024. Accessed May 29, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/the-enduring-charm-of-miss-congeniality-a-cinematic-gem/

"The Enduring Charm of "Miss Congeniality": A Cinematic Gem," PapersOwl.com , 28-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-enduring-charm-of-miss-congeniality-a-cinematic-gem/. [Accessed: 29-May-2024]

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Morgan Spurlock, Documentarian Known for ‘Super Size Me,’ Dies at 53

His 2004 film followed Mr. Spurlock as he ate nothing but McDonald’s for a month. It was nominated for an Oscar, but it later came in for criticism.

Morgan Spurlock, a young man with brown hair, sideburns and a long mustache, poses with French fries in his left hand and a hamburger in his right. He wears a red T-shirt with a picture of a burger on it.

By Clay Risen and Remy Tumin

Morgan Spurlock, a documentary filmmaker who gained fame with his Oscar-nominated 2004 film “ Super Size Me ,” which followed him as he ate nothing but McDonald’s for 30 days — but later stepped back from the public eye after admitting to sexual misconduct — died on Thursday in New York City. He was 53.

His brother Craig Spurlock said the cause was complications of cancer.

A self-described attention hound with a keen eye for the absurd, Mr. Spurlock was a playwright and television producer when he rocketed to global attention with “Super Size Me,” an early entry into the genre of gonzo participatory filmmaking that borrowed heavily from the confrontational style of Michael Moore and the up-close-and-personal influences of reality TV, which was then just emerging as a genre.

The film’s approach was straightforward: Mr. Spurlock would eat nothing but McDonald’s food for a month, and if a server at the restaurant offered to “supersize” the meal — that is, to give him the largest portion available for each item — he would accept.

The movie then follows Mr. Spurlock and his ever-patient girlfriend through his 30-day odyssey, splicing in interviews with health experts and visits to his increasingly disturbed physician. At the end of the month, he was 25 pounds heavier, depressed, puffy-faced and experiencing liver dysfunction.

The film, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, grossed over $22 million, made Mr. Spurlock a household name, earned him an Academy Award nomination for best documentary and helped spur a sweeping backlash against the fast-food industry — though only temporarily ; today, McDonald’s has 42,000 locations worldwide, its stock is near an all-time high, and 36 percent of Americans eat fast food on any given day.

“His movie,” the critic A.O. Scott wrote in The New York Times , “goes down easy and takes a while to digest, but its message is certainly worth the loss of your appetite.”

The film became a touchstone in American culture. By making himself a part of the story, Mr. Spurlock could be considered a forerunner of TikTok influencers and citizen-journalist YouTubers.

And even after the backlash against fast food subsided, “Super Size Me” remained a staple in high school health classes and a reference point for taking personal responsibility for one’s own diet.

But the film also came in for subsequent criticism. Some people pointed out that Mr. Spurlock refused to release the daily logs tracking his food intake. Health researchers were unable to replicate his results in controlled studies.

And in 2017, he admitted that he had not been sober for more than a week at a time in 30 years — meaning that, in addition to his “McDonald’s only” diet, he was drinking, a fact that he concealed from his doctors and the audience, and that most likely skewed his results.

The admission came in a statement in which he also revealed multiple incidents of sexual misconduct, including an encounter in college that he described as rape, as well as repeated infidelity and the sexual harassment of an assistant at his production company, Warrior Poets.

The statement, which Mr. Spurlock posted on Twitter in 2017, came as he was gearing up for the release of a sequel to the film, “ Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! ” on YouTube Red.

He stepped down from his production company, and YouTube dropped the film; it was instead released in 2019 by Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Morgan Valentine Spurlock was born on Nov. 7, 1970, in Parkersburg, W.Va., and grew up in Beckley, W.Va. His father, Ben, owned and operated an auto-repair shop, and his mother, Phyllis (Valentine) Spurlock, was a junior high school and high school guidance counselor.

He later said he grew up as a fan of 1970s and ’80s British comedies like “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” and “Blackadder.”

“I was doing funny walks round the house at 6 or 7,” he told The Independent in 2012 .

He studied film at New York University and received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in 1993, then began his career as a production assistant on film projects around New York City, beginning with Luc Besson’s “Léon: The Professional” (1994).

He also began writing plays, including “The Phoenix,” which won an award at the 1999 New York International Fringe Festival.

Mr. Spurlock’s first foray onto the screen was a proto-reality show called “I Bet You Will,” which was also one of the first web-only programs. In five-minute segments, he would dare people to do something gross, or humiliating, or both — eating a “worm burrito,” for example — in exchange for a wad of cash.

The show drew millions of viewers, as well as the interest of MTV, which bought the program a few months after it debuted.

During a Thanksgiving visit to his parents in 2002, Mr. Spurlock saw a TV news story about two women who had sued McDonald’s, claiming that the chain had misled them about the nutritional value of its hamburgers, fries and sodas and caused them to gain significant weight.

“A spokesman for McDonald’s came on and said, you can’t link their obesity to our food — our food is healthy, it’s nutritious,” he told The New York Times in 2004 . “I thought, ‘If it’s so good for me, I should be able to eat it every day, right?’”

And thus, “Super Size Me” was born.

Mr. Spurlock took to fame eagerly, and, with his wide smile and handlebar mustache, was hard to miss. He became an unofficial spokesman for the wellness movement, hobnobbed with celebrity chefs — and scrambled to find a new project.

He did not want to lose the momentum generated by “Super Size Me,” nor did he want to go down in history only as the guy who ate a lot of Big Macs.

“I’ll be that guy till I die,” he told The Independent.

A follow-up film, “Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?” (2008), was not nearly as well received. Critics assailed him for making light of an international terrorist and for oversimplifying complicated global politics. More bricks were thrown when it emerged that he had put himself at significant personal risk while in Pakistan while his wife was at home with their newborn son.

Eventually, he did get somewhat past the shadow of “Super Size Me”: He teamed up with the actors Jason Bateman and Will Arnett to explore the male grooming industry in “Mansome” (2012) and followed the band One Direction around, resulting in the film “One Direction: This Is Us” (2013).

He produced films by other documentarians, including “The Other F Word” (2011), directed by Andrea Blaugrund Nevins, about punk rockers who became fathers, and “A Brony Tale” (2014), directed by Brent Hodge, about the subculture known as Bronies — adults, mostly men, who love the animated series “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.”

And he continued to make projects that leaned on the participatory style of “Super Size Me.” He created and starred in a series called “30 Days” for FX, in which a person, often Mr. Spurlock himself, would spend about a month embedded in a community much different from his own. One episode saw him spend 25 days in a Virginia jail.

Mr. Spurlock was married three times, to Priscilla Sommer, Alexandra Jamieson and Sara Bernstein; all three marriages ended in divorce. Along with his brother Craig, he is survived by another brother, Barry; his parents; and his sons, Laken and Kallen.

His decision to discuss his sexual past, which came at the height of the #Metoo movement, was met with a mix of praise and criticism. Though many people lauded him for coming forward, critics suggested that he was trying to get ahead of a story that was going to emerge anyway.

All agreed, though, that the decision came with consequences: “Career death,” The Washington Post declared it in 2022 , noting that the once-ubiquitous Mr. Spurlock had largely disappeared.

Clay Risen is a Times reporter on the Obituaries desk. More about Clay Risen

Remy Tumin is a reporter for The Times covering breaking news and other topics. More about Remy Tumin

COMMENTS

The Words of Katy's Essay from the Movie "Flicka"
The settlers called them parasites that could strip the land and starve their own herd. They couldn't domesticate them so they destroyed them. Isolated and hungry they were on their way to disappearing from the face of the earth. Sometimes when the lie disappears an after image remains, just for a moment mustangs are an after image.
Flicka (2006)
Flicka: Directed by Michael Mayer. With Tim McGraw, Maria Bello, Alison Lohman, Ryan Kwanten. Young Katy claims a wild horse as her own -- an effort to prove to her father that she is capable of taking over the family horse ranch one day.
Flicka (2006)
Flicka: Directed by Michael Mayer. With Tim McGraw, Maria Bello, Alison Lohman, Ryan Kwanten. Young Katy claims a wild horse as her own -- an effort to prove to her father that she is capable of taking over the family horse ranch one day.
Flicka
Flicka. Directed by Michael Mayer. Adventure, Drama, Family. PG. 1h 35m. By Manohla Dargis. Oct. 20, 2006. Girl meets horse yet again in "Flicka," an entertainingly ridiculous update of Mary O ...
Katy McLaughlin
Flicka is a 2006 British-American family adventure drama film loosely based on the 1941 children's novel My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara. In this version, set in the 21st century, the protagonist is a teenage girl, known as Katherine "Katy" McLaughlin, played by Alison Lohman. McLaughlin is the headstrong 16-year-old daughter of Rob McLaughlin, and dreams of one day running her father's ...
Flicka (2006)
In this contemporary motion picture adaptation of Mary O'Hara's beloved novel My Friend Flicka, 16-year-old Katy McLaughlin (Alison Lohman) dreams of fulfilling her family legacy by working on her father's ranch in modern-day Wyoming. But Katy's father wants more for her, insisting that Katy go to college. Katy finds a wild mustang, which she names Flicka, and sets out to make her a ...
Flicka
Flicka is a 2006 American family adventure drama film loosely based on the 1941 children's novel My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara.The film is directed by Michael Mayer and written by Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Konner.The novel had previously been made into a film by 20th Century Fox in 1943, and served as the inspiration for My Friend Flicka, a 39-episode TV series in 1956-1957.
Flicka
Film Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. Katy McLaughlin (Alison Lohman) has been sent by her financially strapped parents to a prestigious private school on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming. Her father, Rob (Tim McGraw), runs the ranch he inherited from his dad in the state's remote mountain region. He dreams of sending Katy to college ...
Flicka
In modern-day Wyoming, teenager Katy McLaughlin (Alison Lohman) dreams of working on and, one day, taking over her father's ranch. She tames a mustang and names her Flicka, then finds that she and ...
Flicka: The Movie Novel
The story of a girl, a wild mustang, and the courage to love the untamed . . . Katy has always been a dreamer, even when it gets her in trouble. At boarding school, she can't keep her mind off her mountain ranch and the horses her family raises there. Back home for the summer, she finds an unlikely friend in a wild horse, Flicka. But when her father forbids her to visit the dangerous mustang ...
Flicka (2006)
Coming-of-age story set in the mountain vistas, A headstrong 16-year-old Katy McLaughlin desires to work on her family's mountainside horse ranch, although her father insists she finish boarding school. Katy finds a mustang in the hills near her ranch. Katy then sets her mind to tame a mustang and prove to her father she can run the ranch.
7 Flicka Movie Facts You Probably Didn't Know
Here are seven interesting facts about the Flicka movie. 1. Flicka is Based on a Children's Novel. The basic concept for Flicka came from Mary O'Hara's children's novel "My Friend Flicka," first published in 1941. However, the movie and the book are quite different in many ways.
The Movie: Flicka
Flicka Flicka is a heart wrenching movie about the love of family, nature, and horses. This movie shows you the summer of a ranchers daughter. Katy McLauglin (Alison Lohman) is the teenage daughter of a horse rancher who is looking to hand over the reins of the family business. While her family is on the ranch, Katy is studing at a private ...
Flicka
Movie Review. A headstrong teenage girl. An untamed wild mustang. And a stubborn-but-loving father. Mix them together and you get Flicka, the latest adaptation of Mary O'Hara's beloved children's story My Friend Flicka.. Nothing thrills Katy McLaughlin more than galloping across Wyoming's mountain meadows on horseback.
Screen It! Parental Review: Flicka
One of the ranch-hands, Gus, jokes to Howard, wondering when he's going to put his brand on Miranda (presumably meaning become engaged). Katy doesn't inform her parents that she was kicked out of school for failing to write her final essay, and then repeatedly disobeys her father's rules about dealing with Flicka.
FLICKA
FLICKA is an entertaining, heartwarming and absorbing family movie. Alison Lohman gives a spirited, versatile performance as Katie. She is ably supported by the rest of the cast. The movie's a little slow in spots, and children may want to see more scenes with Katie training and riding Flicka. The movie celebrates the family bonds that can keep ...
Flicka Movie Review
What you will—and won't—find in this movie. Infrequent profanity: "ass," "damn," "hell." Some. Budweiser, Ford. Some drinking and smoking in a bar scene. Parents need to know that Flicka is a 2006 drama inspired by the classic book My Friend Flicka.
What are the words the Katy's essay in the movie flicka?
These are the words to the essay in the beginning of the movie, the anger essay in the middle after her dad sold Flicka, and the inspirational speech at the very end of the movie!!! Wiki User ∙ ...
Flicka: The Movie Novel
Flicka: The Movie Novel. Paperback - September 5, 2006. by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld (Author) 4.3 18 ratings. See all formats and editions. The story of a girl, a wild mustang, and the courage to love the untamed . . . Katy has always been a dreamer, even when it gets her in trouble. At boarding school, she can't keep her mind off her ...
Flicka (2006)
Katherine "Katie" McLoughlin : The stories we hear about how the West was won are all lies. The history of the West was written by the horse. Wherever a settler left his footprint there was a hoof print beside it. Men came further and further west to stake their claim on the great American wilderness.
Strong Emotions In The Movie : Flicka
Gil Netter's production of this film is based on Mary O'Hara's children's novel, My Friend Flicka. Being directed under Michael Mayer, this is the story of "the only daughter in a long line of ranchers," (Netter & Mayer, 2006), and how finds her "Flicka". Flicka meaning strong, young girl whose beauty shines brighter than anything ...
The Movie: Flicka
Flicka Flicka is a heart wrenching movie about the love of family, nature, and horses. This movie shows you the summer of a ranchers daughter. Katy McLauglin (Alison Lohman) is the teenage daughter of a horse rancher who is looking to hand over the reins of the family business. While her family is on the […]
The Movie: Flicka
Download. Flicka Flicka is a heart wrenching movie about the love of family, nature, and horses. This movie shows you the summer of a ranchers daughter. Katy McLauglin (Alison Lohman) is the teenage daughter of a horse rancher who is looking to hand over the reins of the family business. While her family is on the ranch, Katy is studing at a ...
Watch This: Fascinating 'Why It Feels Like the End of VFX' Video Essay
"It's a game called, 'Find What's Wrong With This Shot.'" Here is another must watch new video about the current state of the VFX industry in cinema. It's a 20 minute video essay created by ...
The Enduring Charm of "Miss Congeniality": A Cinematic Gem
The essay discusses how the movie balances comedy with deeper messages about authenticity and self-acceptance. It also praises the performances of the supporting cast, especially Michael Caine and Heather Burns, and emphasizes the film's positive portrayal of personal growth and inner beauty. Overall, "Miss Congeniality" is celebrated for ...
Indian teen allegedly kills two while drunk driving. As ...
Anger is growing in India after a teenager who allegedly killed two people while drunk driving was ordered to write an essay as punishment, with many demanding a harsher penalty and accusing the ...
Opinion
Ms. Havrilesky writes the "Ask Polly" advice column and is the author of "Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage." Tears are sacred. They express sadness, communicate joy, signal ...
Opinion
Guest Essay. My Life in the Brat Pack, Reconsidered. May 27, 2024. ... When I was a very young man, I became very successful very quickly in a string of movies. It was the 1980s, and I was in the ...
Morgan Spurlock, Documentarian Known for 'Super Size Me,' Dies at 53
The movie then follows Mr. Spurlock and his ever-patient girlfriend through his 30-day odyssey, splicing in interviews with health experts and visits to his increasingly disturbed physician.

The Words of Katy’s Essay from the Movie “Flicka”

Katy McLaughlin

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7 Flicka Movie Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

1. Flicka is Based on a Children’s Novel

2. The Movie’s Lead Actress Never Worked With Horses Before

3. Several Horses Doubled for Flicka

4. Alison Lohman Was 11 Years Older Than Her Character Katy

5. Tim McGraw Co-wrote the Song “My Little Girl”

6. The Cliff in Flicka’s Capture Was Created by Cgi

7. The Mountain Lion Never Shared the Set with Horses

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