"The Secret Art of Human Flight," nimbly directed by H.P. Mendoza, is a gentle fable about letting go — and letting your freak flag fly. Quirky, without being overly precious, the film has Ben (Grant Rosenmeyer) despondent after the loss of his wife, Sarah (Reina Hardesty). He finds comfort by learning to fly "with no plane involved." His instructor is Mealworm (Paul Raci), whom he found on the dark web, who puts him through a rigorous program — e.g., eat only vegetables for a week, then eat only meat for a week; go on a quest for spiritual enlightenment, etc. Ben's training distracts him from his loss and gives him a renewed sense of purpose. His friendship with Mealworm, as well as his wife's friend, Wendy (a sublime Maggie Grace), helps Ben get out of his rut.
Mendoza, who has previously directed the infectious low-budget musical, "Fruit Fly," and the dark comedy, "Bitter Melon," connects with the material here by creating flights of fancy while also grounding the story with scenes depicting grief and mental illness. It's a tricky balancing act that shifts from comedy to sadness, sometimes within the same scene. Mendoza manages it well coaxing a wily performance from Raci and infusing the story with some clever visual touches.
