FINDING NEVERLAND by Marc Forster
January 12th, 2005 by Andre Soares
Finding Neverland (2004) 
Director: Marc Forster. Screenplay: David Magee; from Allan Knee’s play The Man Who Was Peter Pan. Cast: Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Radha Mitchell, Julie Christie, Freddie Highmore, Dustin Hoffman
LOSING REALITY
Back in 2001, German-born director Marc Forster brought a much welcome touch of non-Hollywood flavor to the independently made psychological drama Monster’s Ball. Besides the daring (if overlong) sex scenes, that film imparted a refreshingly realistic atmosphere that was much enhanced by Forster’s minimalist touch. As the title implies, Finding Neverland, adapted by David Magee from Allan Knee’s play The Man Who Was Peter Pan, has absolutely nothing to do with reality, whether James M. Barrie’s or anyone else’s. Even so, Forster’s subtle touch is sorely missing from what is little more than an average big-studio holiday movie whose so-called magical moments might as well have been created by a computer. What saves Finding Neverland from the bottomless pits of mushiness is a trio of excellent actresses: Kate Winslet, Radha Mitchell, and veteran Julie Christie, all of whom bring a much needed sense of honesty and real feeling to the generally sugary proceedings
Synopsis:
Following the cool reception accorded his latest play, author James M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) meets four young boys whose father, Mr. Llewelyn Davies, has recently passed away. Since Barrie frequently escapes to a fantasy world to avoid dealing with the harsh realities of adult life, he finds much in common with the four kids. Less a father figure than the boys’ partner in crime, Barrie starts visiting the Llewelyn Davies home with increasing frequency. While he plays with the boys, the young widow Sylvia (Kate Winslet) watches over them.
All seems to be going well, except for the fact that Barrie is a married man. Feeling rejected, his wife, Mary Ansell (Radha Mitchell), starts going out on her own. Further complicating matters, Sylvia’s stern mother, Mrs. Emma du Maurier (Julie Christie), doesn’t approve of the deepening friendship between her daughter and the quirky playwright. Barrie, however, must keep seeing that family. They have become the inspiration for his next play, Peter Pan. Additionally, the boys need some sort of a male role model and Sylvia’s health is beginning to deteriorate. Barrie feels the urge to guide the Llewelyn Davieses — especially the precocious and skeptical Peter — to a safe haven free of poverty and disease, Neverland.
FINDING NEVERLAND - Notes/Trivia
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