A teenage girl named Katy is finishing her year at boarding school. However, she fails to write an essay for her final exam. While talking to her friends, she is told that the headmaster wants to see her.

Shortly after, she comes home to her warm mother, strict father, and older brother, Howard, on their horse ranch. During a meal, Katy’s dad, Rob, reveals that he found out that she handed in a blank sheet of paper for her essay and puts her down for it. If she doesn’t get a certain grade, she will get held back.

Sometime later, Katy rides one of the family horses around the mountain—only for a mountain lion to spook it. Luckily, though, they end up okay.

They also come across a wild black mustang, which is out of control. When Katy goes home, she tells her family about it. Her father is unhappy, though. He won’t allow her near that mustang.

At some point, the same mustang is on the ranch, enclosed in a pen. One night, Katy sneaks out of the house and goes to it, trying to calm it by singing it a lullaby. She also names the horse Flicka, after hearing it as a nickname for a little girl. Despite Flicka’s wildness, Katy forms a bond with her.

While she can, she tries to tame Flicka, as a way to prove to her father that she can run a ranch. She also meets some other guys, who are friends of her parents. She generally gets along with them.

However, Rob plans to sell the ranch. Of course, Katy is disappointed and tries to talk him out of it. But he refuses to talk about it and says that the decision is final.

In spite of her sweet relationship with her mother, Nell, Katy’s relationship with her father goes downhill. She feels that he doesn’t understand her. It even gets to the point where she refuses to acknowledge her dad as her family.

What’s worse is when Rob decides to sell Flicka. This leaves poor Katy devastated. She chases the truck transporting Flicka, but it drives away, and Katy can’t keep up. Flicka will be going to a rodeo and staying there.

The next day, while their parents are out, Howard and Katy decide to swim in the lake nearby. Katy’s friend, Miranda, also joins them. They have a good time.

After that, Miranda reveals the whole plan with what’s going to happen to Flicka. The horses she’s around aren’t exactly the friendliest.

Katy decides to have Howard enter the rodeo so that if he wins the money, she can buy Flicka back. Howard is a little hesitant of the idea, though.

But once the time comes, he enters both himself and Katy. The two ride Flicka together in the ring.

However, both their parents catch them. Katy rides Flicka out of the fair, and Nell and Rob begin to find help looking for her.

That night, Katy worries that she is lost. Then she finds the familiar creek… until a mountain lion attacks Flicka, putting her life in danger.

Can she still be saved?

I remember seeing this movie in the theater around the time it came out. I enjoyed it then, and I liked it again as an adult.

As someone who rode horses as a child, I found a lot I could relate to with Katy. Aside from loving horses, she was adventurous, wanted to make her own choices, and formed a sweet bond with Flicka.

I absolutely adored Katy’s relationship with Flicka. It was so beautiful how she would calm her, interact with her, and even sing her a lullaby. Although it’s not revealed how she knew it, I assumed that her mother sang it to her when she was small. But I could be wrong.

Speaking of which, Katy also had a nice relationship with her mom and brother, Howard. Her father was difficult for her to get along with as he was often harsh and unfair. But he does change.

The setting of rustic Wyoming was a very appropriate choice. I don’t normally discuss film settings in my reviews, but this is an exception. I think it was necessary to set the story in the rustic west—specifically Wyoming because it’s less populated and has a lot of beautiful wilderness.

Regardless of the strengths, there were a few weaknesses. One is how the pacing was a bit too slow at times. The other is how some scenes lagged, even if its length was necessary.

But otherwise, I enjoyed Flicka. It is a great movie with adventure, emotions, and much more.

Note that even though it’s rated PG, there are a few profane words used. I recommend that viewers be at least 10 years old to watch it.

Anyway, I give this film 4.5 out of 5 stars.