Flight (2003)

The Flight Controller watches the skies;
the Refugee watches the goddess-like Flight Controller, who looks with scorn upon the reckless hurry of the mortals beneath her. A strange relationship develops between them: he is fascinated by her and by the skies she controls, while she finds him the only interesting person among her passengers, chiefly because he is an illegal alien with a mystery of his own — and is not going anywhere.

People start to arrive: Bill and Tina hope to enliven their marriage with a second honeymoon; an Older Woman is meeting a much younger lover who will arrive on Wednesday—but which Wednesday? Two flight attendants, always crossing the world on their different routes, seize every opportunity to advance their torrid affair. The neurotic and pregnant wife of a diplomat on his way to Minsk finds it impossible to take off with her husband at the last moment. The prowling Immigration Officer is a constant threat to the Refugee.

That night

An electrical storm is raging; the Controller announces that all aircraft are grounded. The storm rages in the hearts of the passengers as well, as relationships build and clash. The Controller, unable to control the weather, can hardly control her own frustration.

The Refugee tries to calm the women in his own strange way, giving each a “magic stone” which he promises will solve all their problems. The Flight Attendants try to contain the rising tensions by carrying out the duties they would have performed in the air. Eventually, everyone settles down to sleep. This is the cue for Bill, accused by Tina of being insufficiently adventurous, to attempt an illicit relationship of his own, which turns out to be not quite as he expected.

The next morning

The skies are clear again, but tempers are still frayed and feelings hurt as various contretemps are revealed by the light of day. The Minsk Man returns just as his wife gives birth to their child. Bill’s peccadillo is exposed, and Tina knocks him unconscious with the Book she hoped would revitalize their marriage. When he regains consciousness, he has lost his memory; she seizes the opportunity to find a new way (not found in the Book) for them to start over.

The Immigration Officer finally catches up with the Refugee, who is only saved from deportation when his personal story is revealed to all.