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The Secret Art of Human Flight

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The Secret Art of Human Flight

Released Jul 5, 2024

1h 47m

Comedy

Drama

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

After the sudden death of his wife, children’s book author Ben Grady (Grant Rosenmeyer) goes through an extreme mourning process, alienating himself from his sister Gloria (Lucy DeVito) and her husband Tom (Nican Robinson). When Ben stumbles upon the dark web, he discovers a mysterious self-help book written by an enigmatic guru named "Mealworm" (Oscar Nominee Paul Raci), who claims to have harnessed the power to fly. The book arrives... and so does Mealworm, forcing Ben to navigate his family life, accusations of foul play, and the bizarre rituals laid before him by his new mentor, in the hopes of healing and ultimately achieving human flight.

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Critics Consensus

Paul Raci doles out the mystic formula for overcoming grief and The Secret Art of Human Flight in this whimsical dark comedy.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Paul Raci is just wonderful here.

Sep 16, 2024

Full Review

Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

H.P. Mendoza doesn’t skimp in relating the hardships of getting yourself out of the grief rut when you lose a loved one, but he also shows how there are moments of dark, profound humor.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 28, 2024

Full Review

Monica Castillo

RogerEbert.com

What will stick with viewers is most likely Mendoza and Orenshein’s tender portrait of the act of grieving.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 14, 2024

Full Review

Andy Klein

FilmWeek (LAist)

Very slow to get going, but once it does get going I liked it.

Sep 16, 2024

Full Review

Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

There’s a deep understanding of the ways that people can be affected by grief underlying the gentle, quirky comedy of this tale.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 23, 2024

Full Review

Ruth Maramis

FlixChatter Film Blog

An equally beautiful and heartbreaking movie that I would absolutely recommend.

Aug 21, 2024

Full Review

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Mr. Hollywood

You could tell the budget wasnt that big but they do everything they can with what they had. A very enjoyable film. I like when films actually go there and dont take the easy way out. Definitely check it out

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/10/24

Full Review

Ricky

This film needs more recognition

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/24

Full Review

Denise M

This is an Oscar Contender. Best film I've seen so far this year.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/24

Full Review

Happiest P

This movie is amazing! I have watched this on separate occasions and it hits me the same every time. If you want to understand grief and what it feels like to lose a part of yourself then this movie is for you. Every member of the cast but especially Grant Rosenmeyer and Paul Raci are incredible. Grant does an amazing job of playing the grief stricken husband who just seems lost and clinging, Ben and with Paul Raci coming in as Mealworm to show him a way out of grief. Lucy DeVito is amazing as the sister of Ben, Gloria. She is just trying to help her brother but cannot seem to reach him. The ending is probably the best part and I love discussing it with others thinking of what it means and what actually happened. If you go out of your way to watch one movie, this is the one you should pick!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

Full Review

Patrick H

This was an interesting and kind of comedic exploration into the things we do as part of the grieving process for those we love, but also with a tilt into the fantastical and how sometimes imagination, reconciliation with the circumstances, that will help you get through those circumstances, as inane as they are, will be a way forward. I like the fact that the film is mainly character and emotion-driven with little special effects or reliance on cheap plot/cinematic devices, and Grant Rosenmeyer did a wonderful job playing Ben. I felt a variety of emotional ups and downs with this movie, and I think it's a fun "try-watching-the-first-10-minutes-to-see-if-it-fits-with-you" kind of movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

Full Review

Valerie W

So glad to have seen this film - it goes all kinds of places in its journey through loss. Amazing indie gem!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/25

Full Review

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H.P. Mendoza

Director

Grant Rosenmeyer

Ben Grady

Paul Raci

Mealworm

Lucy DeVito

Gloria Grady

Nican Robinson

Tom Henderson

Reina Hardesty

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The Secret Art of Human Flight: Trailer 1

1:59

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Synopsis

After the sudden death of his wife, children’s book author Ben Grady (Grant Rosenmeyer) goes through an extreme mourning process, alienating himself from his sister Gloria (Lucy DeVito) and her husband Tom (Nican Robinson). When Ben stumbles upon the dark web, he discovers a mysterious self-help book written by an enigmatic guru named "Mealworm" (Oscar Nominee Paul Raci), who claims to have harnessed the power to fly. The book arrives... and so does Mealworm, forcing Ben to navigate his family life, accusations of foul play, and the bizarre rituals laid before him by his new mentor, in the hopes of healing and ultimately achieving human flight.

Director: H.P. Mendoza
Producer: Tina Carbone, Jonathan Lim, Grant Rosenmeyer, Benjamin Wiessner
Screenwriter: Jesse Orenshein
Distributor: Level 33 Entertainment
Production Co: Florida Hill Entertainment, Codaheart, Marginal Mediaworks, Vanishing Angle, City Hill Arts, Rogue Wave Pictures, Chicago Media Angels, Dweck Productions, Ersatz Film
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 5, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 23, 2024
Runtime: 1h 47m

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