'Little Wing' on Paramount+: How Sedona Murphy and her 'works of art' made it to The New Yorker
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Little Wing', a 60-minute film directed by Dean Israelite featuring 'Succession' star Brian Cox is loosely based on Susan Orlean's 2006 article for The New Yorker.
The film that releases on Paramount+ on Wednesday, March 13, revolves around the story of Kaitlyn McKay (Brooklynn Prince), a 13-year-old grappling with her parents' divorce.
In the aftermath of losing their home, Kaitlyn, along with her mother Maddie (Kelly Reilly), faces financial challenges.
To remedy the situation, Kaitlyn initially plans to steal a valuable racing pigeon. However, her path takes an unexpected turn as she forms a connection with the bird's owner, Jaan (Brian Cox).
Instead of pursuing theft, Jaan fosters Kaitlyn's passion for the sport, leading to a unique bond between them.
The character of Kaitlyn McKay (Brooklynn Prince) draws inspiration from 13-year-old Sedona Murphy, who, in 2006, nurtured and trained racing pigeons in her backyard.
On a sunny Saturday, Sedona Murphy gave away her homing pigeons, sparking curiosity about her and the reason behind parting with her cherished flock. If you're wondering about Sedona's story, we've got you covered.
Who is Sedona Murphy?
At the time of Orlean's article, Sedona Murphy, a sprightly 13-year-old, dedicated her time to fostering and training racing pigeons in her backyard.
Although details about her personal life remain elusive, Orlean's narrative highlighted Sedona's composed demeanor.
This incident illuminated Sedona's profound love for her feathered companions.
Sedona's pigeon journey began with a gift from Bill Hussey, a friend of her mother Maggie. Bill, with a hundred-bird racing team called Hussey-N-Da Lofts, presented Sedona with two baby birds, Soleil and Stella Luna.
Enamored with animals and already owning an Australian shepherd, a cat, and a gecko, Sedona received more pigeons from South Shore Pigeon Flyers club members. Her flock expanded to eighteen birds.
Initially housed in the family's kitchen, the pigeons caused discomfort for other pets. To address this, Maggie bought a garden shed as a coop, built by their neighbor Jim at the end of the backyard.
Growing up with friends who had homing pigeons, Jim assisted Sedona in caring for the birds. While her twin brother Patrick spent some time with them, Sedona, deeply in love, became the primary caregiver for the flock.
Sedona considered the pigeons as "little works of art" and found beauty in their competitions. Despite facing challenges like hawks, misdirection, and a virus within the club's birds during one- and two-hundred-mile races, Sedona competed proudly against adults with pedigreed champions.
Why did Sedona Murphy give her birds away?
The Murphys gave away their pigeons as they moved to Southborough. Pigeons, bound to their original coop, resist relocation.
While some birds may adapt to a new coop, racing pigeons raised in captivity often become "prisoners," needing confinement for life.
The challenge is providing suitable aviaries for these birds, ensuring room for flight. Racing pigeons' unwavering sense of home contrasts with humans' frequent relocations.
Maggie, lacking an aviary at the new house, persuaded Sedona to give the pigeons to club members with suitable facilities like Damian Levangie, the president of South Shore Pigeon Flyers.
How to stream 'Little Wing'?
'Little Wing' drops on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, for viewers in the US, streaming on Paramount+.
In the US, Paramount Plus has a $6/month Essential plan (ad-supported) and a $12/month Paramount Plus with Showtime plan, featuring Showtime content, the ability to download titles, and local live CBS station access.
'Little Wing' trailer