Review  

Finding Neverland:

Finding the path to Peter Pan

By Dilshan Boange

Inspiration to a writer may at times flow torrentially or be as elusive as a mirage in an arid desert. Writer’s block is arguably a writer’s worst enemy in respect of work related afflictions. Some of the reasons that cause ‘writer’s block’ can be the subconscious fear within the writer that his work may be inferior in quality or that he daunted by the magnitude of the subject matter he plans to make the premise of his work.

Pressures from financial fronts and personal relationships can also be factors which deny the writer the emotional and psychological drive to work.

 In this regard a very heartwarming film which touches on the matter of writer’s block and how a writer may find respite from the afflictions of writer’s block and finally overcome the hurdle is Finding Neverland.

The story focuses on Scottish writer J. M. Barrie, who is famed as the creator of Peter Pan who lives in the fantastic world called Neverland.

The character of Barrie is portrayed brilliantly by the screen icon Johnny Depp. The semi biographical film is centered on Barrie’s platonic relationship with Sylvia Llewelyn Davies who is brought to life on screen captivatingly by Kate Winslet. The current underlying the relationship is the charming closeness Barrie develops with Sylvia’s sons who inspire the classic play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Never Grew Up.

Due to the poor reception received by his latest play, Little Mary, Barrie finds himself in a morally dismal downturn of sprits when one day he meets the widowed Sylvia and her four young sons in Kensington Gardens. Instantly a strong friendship develops between them.

He proves to be an endearing playmate and surrogate father figure for the boys, and their imaginative antics give him ideas which he incorporates into a play about boys who do not want to grow up, especially one named after troubled young Peter Llewelyn Davies.

Objection to this developing relationship soon arises from Barrie’s wife Mary, who eventually divorces him, and Sylvia’s mother Emma du Maurier, who objects to the amount of time Barrie spends with the Llewelyn Davies family.

Emma also seeks to control her daughter and grandsons, especially as Sylvia becomes increasingly weak from an undiagnosed illness.

In terms of his career as a playwright and theatre director Barrie finds his Charles Frohman skeptically agrees to let Peter Pan go on the boards despite his belief the play holds no appeal for upper-class theatergoers.

Barrie thinking innovatively vitalises the opening night audience with children from an orphanage, and the adults respond to their infectious delight with appreciation. Barrie’s play proves to be a great success despite the scepticism of the producer.

The tragic turn of events is that Sylvia, however, too ill to attend the production, which motivates Barrie to arrange an abridged production of it performed in her home.

Shortly afterwards Sylvia dies, and Barrie finds that in her will she has requested him and her mother look after the boys, an arrangement which becomes agreeable to both who have the mutual interest of the boy’s well-being at heart.

The story is one that will touch the hearts of anyone who appreciates slow paced drama which gently unravels the minds and hearts of gentle people.

Inspiration that feeds and nurtures the creative pulse can be found in the most unexpected of places one may say. And may lead to some of the most endearing works that time endures across generations.