The Man Who Wanted to Fly -Dreams Don’t Age (A Documentary)

Digital New York Film Premiere presented by Irish Repertory Theatre

Ernie Coote and his brother Bobby amiably tolerate one another in the countryside of Ireland where the Cootes have lived for 150 years. The brothers left school in their teens. “My readin’ and writin’ isn’t great,” Bobby comments. Ernie worked at sawmills and creameries, Bobby, in a mortuary and at manual labor. Ernie thinks he may have been half in love once. Bobby met lots of women when he was in England, but found after returning home, things in that area were not easy. “I call myself selfish and cowardly. I’d rather be alone.”

Ernie is a ham radio operator, fishes, and gardens, Bobby repairs clocks and watches, makes violins (he plays both that instrument and accordion at local pub gatherings), and gravitates to air shows. It’s been his lifelong wish to fly a plane. At 81, he has no intention of giving up the dream. Sitting in a cockpit at a show, he looks like a ten year-old on Christmas morning.

Bobby’s friend Sean plows a runway in his fields. The aspiring pilot shops for a small plane called a Microlight: A lightweight, 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft, the plane has what looks like a v-shaped sail over an open cockpit and a propeller in the back. A candidate who has completed the course of training and passed the required flight and ground examinations can fly without further license.

Bobby Coote (this plane is NOT a microlight)

No one thinks the octogenarian will actually fly, least of all Ernie. “I’d rather spend the money on a garden. You wouldn’t have too far to fall from the chair you’re sitting in.” Sean’s wife is skeptical but notes, ”It wouldn’t be the first mad thing they’ve done.” Seeing the twinkle and determination in four eyes, one can easily imagine earlier shenanigans. A plane is found and purchased with 12 years of savings. It looks like a toy. Bobby has yet to take a single lesson. He discovers, contrary to what the seller swore, that the plane has a great deal wrong with it. Depression sets in. Winter comes, time passes. “It’s getting’ a bit embarrassin,” Sean comments.

Then, apparently, and this is not clear, Bobby meets the “right” people to help. We see repair, inspection, and lessons. “I’m only a wee bit nervous,” he says his first time up, scrunched behind the pilot, legs spread with the other man wedged between. Then comes the day, he’s “driving.” We’ve made a journey to the dream’s realization with Bobby, observing everyday life, friends and neighbors, his doubting brother. By the time he lifts off, we feel like applauding with those gathered on the runway.

The film is well shot and well directed. We get a great sense of village life and the extraordinary nature of such an unexpected and unlikely goal. Sweet, uplifting and not at all saccharine.

The Man Who Wanted to Fly
Produced by Trisha Canning and Cormac Hargaden, of Loosehorse Productions
Directed by Frank Shouldice
Director of Photography- Dave Perry
Editor- Emery O’Dery

Photos Courtesy of the film

Reservations are free, but required for access
Donations gratefully accepted

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 7pm
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 2pm
Wednesday, May 26 at 7pm

About Alix Cohen (1706 Articles)
Alix Cohen is the recipient of ten New York Press Club Awards for work published on this venue. Her writing history began with poetry, segued into lyrics and took a commercial detour while holding executive positions in product development, merchandising, and design. A cultural sponge, she now turns her diverse personal and professional background to authoring pieces about culture/the arts with particular interest in artists/performers and entrepreneurs. Theater, music, art/design are lifelong areas of study and passion. She is a voting member of Drama Desk and Drama League. Alix’s professional experience in women’s fashion fuels writing in that area. Besides Woman Around Town, the journalist writes for Cabaret Scenes, Broadway World, TheaterLife, and Theater Pizzazz. Additional pieces have been published by The New York Post, The National Observer’s Playground Magazine, Pasadena Magazine, Times Square Chronicles, and ifashionnetwork. She lives in Manhattan. Of course.