Flicka facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Flicka
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michael Mayer
Produced by	Kevin Halloran Gil Netter
Written by	Mark Rosenthal Lawrence Konner
Starring	Alison Lohman Tim McGraw Maria Bello
Music by	Aaron Zigman
Cinematography	J. Michael Muro
Editing by	Andrew Marcus
Studio	Fox 2000 Pictures Zucker-Netter Productions
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	October 20, 2006 (2006-10-20)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$15 million
Money made	$21,893,591

Flicka is an exciting family adventure drama film from 2006. It's based on the classic 1941 children's book My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara. This movie was directed by Michael Mayer. The story was written by Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Konner.

The book My Friend Flicka was also made into a film in 1943. It even inspired a TV show called My Friend Flicka that ran from 1956 to 1957. In this 2006 movie, the main character is a girl named Katy, played by Alison Lohman. The film also stars Maria Bello, Ryan Kwanten, and country singer Tim McGraw. Tim McGraw was also an executive producer for the movie's soundtrack. The movie cost about $15 million to make. It earned over $21 million in movie theaters in the United States. Later, it became very popular on DVD, making more than $48 million in sales.

There are also two sequels to the movie. Flicka 2 came out on DVD in 2010. Another sequel, Flicka: Country Pride, was released in 2012.

The Story of Flicka

Katherine "Katy" McLaughlin dreams of taking over her dad's horse ranch in Wyoming. But her father, Rob, has different plans. He wants her older brother, Howard, to run the ranch. Rob sends Katy away to a private school, where she feels like she doesn't fit in.

Rob finds it hard to understand Katy. She often goes against his rules to follow her own path. When Katy comes home for the summer, her dad is upset because she didn't finish a school assignment. But her mom, Nell, and Howard are happy to see her. Howard, though, wants to go to college instead of running the ranch.

One day, while riding, Katy discovers a wild black mustang. She feels a special connection with this horse. Katy decides to tame the horse, naming her "Flicka". This word means "little girl" in Swedish. Her father doesn't want her to do it, but Katy is determined.

Flicka is caught during a horse roundup. Rob tells Katy to stay away from the wild horse. Katy wants to prove she can help run the ranch. So, she secretly starts training Flicka at night. Slowly, Flicka begins to trust Katy, and they form a strong bond.

However, Rob sells Flicka to a rodeo. Katy is heartbroken. Nell and Howard are very angry at Rob for making this decision without them. Howard then tells his father that he doesn't want the ranch. Rob still refuses to get Flicka back. Because of this, Howard and Nell refuse to help Rob with the ranch. Rob even starts thinking about selling the ranch. Katy begins writing about Flicka to deal with her sadness.

At the rodeo, Howard and Katy enter the competition where Flicka is being used. They hope to get the horse back. Flicka runs away from Katy at first, until Katy calls her name. Rob tries to stop them, and Katy freezes when she sees him. Howard helps Katy get onto Flicka, and they escape.

Katy gets lost in the mountains. She lets Flicka lead the way back towards the ranch. The family makes up and searches for Katy as a big thunderstorm approaches. Katy and Flicka are attacked by a mountain lion. Flicka runs, throwing Katy to the ground. The lion then tries to attack Katy. Flicka bravely protects Katy, but she gets badly hurt.

Katy ties up Flicka's wounds and refuses to leave her in the storm. Because of this, Katy develops a fever. Rob finds them and brings a very sick Katy back to the house. As her fever gets worse, Katy keeps calling for Flicka. Nell takes care of her. Rob thinks Flicka is too badly hurt and should be put down. Katy, still dazed, overhears this. She stumbles into the room and tells her father to "shoot us now."

Rob goes outside and starts to cry. He finally understands how Katy feels. He realizes his own mistakes and how selfish he has been. A gunshot is heard, and Katy cries, thinking Flicka is dead. The next morning, Nell sees Rob walking back to the house, helping the injured Flicka. She runs out to help. Rob explains that the gunshot was him shooting at the mountain lion. Both are amazed that Flicka is alive and decide not to put her down.

Katy's fever breaks, and she starts to get better. While watching over his daughter, Rob reads the story Katy was writing about Flicka. He even types it up and sends it to her school so she can pass the year. When Katy wakes up, she and Rob make up. He takes her to see Flicka. Rob also apologizes to Howard and gives him his blessing to go to college. As a family, they decide not to sell the ranch. They will keep it as a working ranch and a safe place for wild mustangs.

Main Characters

• Alison Lohman as Katherine "Katy" McLaughlin
• Tim McGraw as Robert "Rob" McLaughlin
• Maria Bello as Nell McLaughlin
• Ryan Kwanten as Howard McLaughlin
• Dallas Roberts as Gus
• Nick Searcy as Norbert Rye
• Danny Pino as Jack
• Kaylee DeFer as Miranda Koop
• Jeffrey Nordling as Rick Koop
• Dey Young as Esther Koop
• Buck Taylor as Wagner

More Flicka Movies

A second Flicka movie, Flicka 2, was released straight to DVD on May 4, 2010. The filming for it started in April 2009. Flicka 2 has a completely new cast and different characters. It's not a direct continuation of the first Flicka movie. Flicka 2 stars Patrick Warburton, Tammin Sursok, and Clint Black. The movie was directed by Michael Damian.

Another sequel, Flicka: Country Pride, came out on May 1, 2012. Michael Damian returned as the director for this film too. It also features Clint Black, along with Kacey Rohl, Clint Black's wife Lisa Hartman-Black, Max Lloyd-Jones, Siobhan Williams, Laura Solties, and Alexander Calvert. Someone once asked the director if the animals in the Flicka movies might start talking, like in other animal movie series. Michael Damian said he didn't think so, but added, "never say never, because you never know what will happen."

Movie Music

A special album with all the music from the movie was released on October 17, 2006.

Awards and Nominations

The movie Flicka was recognized for its quality.

• It was nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best Family Film (Live Action). This nomination was for the movie itself and for Alison Lohman's acting.
• The song "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw, which was in the movie, was also nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best Song.

See also

In Spanish: Flicka para niños