Come from Away
Come from Away
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Come from Away is a filmed performance of a Broadway musical drama based on real people and events. It's about airline passengers on September 11, 2001, whose flight was ordered to land at an airport in Newfoundland after all flights in the United States were immediately grounded, and stayed grounded for several days afterward. No violence from the terrorist attacks is shown or narrated directly, but the attacks serve as the foundation for the story and are mentioned often. Sensitive viewers who remember the day may experience some emotional triggers. Strong language includes a bleeped-out "f--k." "S--t" and "damn" are heard a couple of times. There's some brief innuendo about sexiness, and a couple of kisses. A couple of scenes take place in a bar, and passengers in a plane are given free drinks, with some excess shown. A pregnant chimpanzee is discovered in a cargo hold. The baby chimp was delivered prematurely and doesn't survive. Townspeople model teamwork, communication, compassion, and perseverance. There's little content of concern, but kid appeal may be limited by the all-adult cast, most over 30, and the low-key production value.
Community Reviews
wonderful musical for kids who know about 9/11
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What's the Story?
COME FROM AWAY, based on real people and events, is about a small community in Newfoundland, Canada, that came together to help about 7,000 stranded airline passengers. On September 11, 2001, all flights in the United States were grounded following the terrorist attacks, and over 35 passenger jets were ordered to land at the remote Gander International Airport. The sudden influx of people from around the world nearly doubled the population of the nearby town, but the people there and in nearby communities rallied to provide shelter, food, and necessities for everyone. Most of the passengers were frightened and confused, unaware of the tragic events that happened that day. And when they were finally able to see the news reports, after the shock and horror, all they wanted was to get back to their loved ones. Overcoming language and cultural barriers, the two groups managed to come together to see everyone through their worst nightmares.
Is It Any Good?
This filmed version of a Broadway musical performance is touching and ultimately upbeat, but it may be an emotional trigger for viewers who remember the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Based on real people and events, Come from Away doesn't rehash that terrible day, but tells a little-known side of the story that shows how a community coming together can make anything happen, and how people who are very different on the outside can come together and touch each other's lives in meaningful ways. Compassion, community, faith, fear, heartache, humanity, and more are all explored with humor and heart in this brief look at a terrible moment in time.
It almost leans more toward opera -- most of the stories are told in song with brief exchanges of dialogue in between. But the music is thoroughly modern and does a good job of moving the story along without being awkward. Moving cameras and a section of the stage that rotates add a dynamic feel to watching a theatrical performance. The acting and singing are solid, with each cast member deftly switching quickly between several roles. The all-adult characters and their stories may limit kid appeal, but tweens and up who are interested in history and curious about the events and their aftermath will learn a lot about 9/11 through the personal stories of many different kinds of people.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Come from Away shows how far-reaching the impact was of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. How did they affect the passengers? How about the people in a few tiny towns in remote Newfoundland? Can you find Newfoundland on a map?
Broadway plays and musicals have been popular for a long time. What do we like or love about them? What makes them a good way to tell a story?
Think about the ways that the people of Gander and other nearby towns pitched in and worked together to provide for the stranded passengers. Why do you think they did that? If you'd been there, do you think you would've helped too? How?
What character strengths do the characters here display?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: September 10, 2021
- Cast: Petrina Bromley, Jenn Colella, De'Lon Grant
- Director: Christopher Ashley
- Studio: Apple TV+
- Genre: Musical
- Topics: Friendship, History
- Character Strengths: Communication, Compassion, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 106 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Flight 93: The Movie
Tense made-for-TV movie about Sept.11 skyjacking.
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In the Heights
Joyous, touching musical has some innuendo, language.
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Fahrenheit 9/11
Controversial docu has graphic imagery and violence.
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