Gordon-and-the-Whale.com

Outside of the glitz, glamour, and red carpets at SXSW, one can find some truly personal cinema in the festivals daunting lineup. This year one such film, FLY AWAY, tells a small, intimate story with little frills but much insight. It's the story of a single mother struggling with the demands of her autistic daughter.

The film leaves a memorable impression and I was happy to be given the chance to sit down and talk with writer/director Janet Grillo and star Beth Broderick (she plays the mother) of FLY AWAY. We chat about how truly personal the film is to Grillo, the challenges of portraying a mother who has raised a special needs child for 16 years, and what the filmmakers hope people take away from the film. Watch the video after the break.