In the words of director Peter Weir, “flying is one of the few moments in modern life when we can be confronted with our own mortality.” This proximity to death, this fear of flying that passengers throughout the world have to suppress each day, inspired the story of architect Max Klein (Jeff Bridges), who survives an air crash and is then incapable of coping with life. He shares this fate with another survivor, Carla (Rosie Perez), whose baby died in the crash. Together, they gradually come to terms with their new reality. “A plane flight is a metaphor for the journey through life,” explains Weir. “Max has to find his way back. When the aircraft crashes he discovers a wonderful treasure: an almost ecstatic acceptance of death, a glimmer of eternity.”