Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Orphaned bird looks for his true home; scares and suspense.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Swift
What's the Story?
Manou (voiced by Josh Keaton), a baby swift, is all alone in the hills above the French Riviera in SWIFT. He's a lucky little guy when he's adopted by two generous seagulls, Blanche (Kate Winslet) and Yves (Willem Dafoe), just before their own baby hatches. Manou becomes part of the seagull family, though it's quite clear he's a very different kind of bird. In a chance meeting with three young swifts, Manou realizes that he's one of them, and likes their company, but not enough to leave his family. Then an unfortunate event occurs. Though doing his best, Manou fails to protect an egg left in his care from sharp-toothed rats and is banished from the seagull flock. Hurt and saddened, Manou turns to his new swift friends for solace, especially Kalifa (Cassandra Steen), a very charming femme fatale. With winter coming, both species of birds look forward to their flight south, but plans are interrupted by the same dangerous rats and unexpected turbulent weather. It's up to Manou to unite the swifts and the seagulls, help them accept their differences, and work as a team to escape the peril and fly south together.
Is It Any Good?
The frequently good-looking animation and the whimsical story of an orphan living in two different bird worlds aren't enough to offset the weaknesses in this well-intentioned production. The scenes that move through the French Riviera are well-drawn, as is an exciting bird race. Seeing the differences in bird species -- seagulls glide when they fly while swifts flap their wings; one species eats bugs, the other is hooked on fish -- are both instructive and fun. However, Swift is long, clunky, and moves from one action sequence to another without much in the way of character development or charm. The sound is sketchy; it's especially hard to hear the words spoken by both Willem Dafoe and Kate Winslet. Finally, for a story that is meant for little kids, the rats are seriously scary.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about cartoon violence in films like Swift. Though the characters are cute, cuddly, and funny, in what ways could this movie be disturbing for little kids? How does your family decide when movies are age-appropriate for you? Why is it important to be aware of the impact of film violence on kids?
The seagulls and the swifts had to put their differences aside to protect one another and make their long trip south successful. How satisfying was it to see the seagulls "gliding" and the swifts "flapping" together on their journey? In what ways is this a lesson for kids, too?
Did you know that a group of rats is called a mischief? Every species of living creature has a term for their group. Look up some unusual ones. What is a group of giraffes called? Owls? Toads?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 21, 2020
- Cast : Willem Dafoe , Kate Winslet , Josh Keaton
- Directors : Christian Haas , Alexandra Block
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Shout! Factory
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , STEM
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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