Never Finding Neverland

So, I watched Finding Neverland yesterday (story of 'Peter Pan' creator J.M.Barrie, starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslett) and was moved to tears by it. Yes, I am a wimp about the unlikeliest things and despite my thorough explanation that men cross their wires so as to detach themselves from predictable emotional situations, I can tell you exactly what affected me about this movie.

The desire of J.M.Barrie to embrace the joy of life and imagination and his recognition that no one has a better grasp of it than children was touching but the attachment of young Peter to his mother, his refusal to trust life and his subsequent conversion (even though his worst fears regarding his mother's fate were realized) was incredibly poignant and tender. As someone who never managed to forge a close relationship with either parent (and anyone else for that matter), this was heart string tug time.

But then something happened that made me angry.

I read online (confirmed by Ebert and Roeper) that certain facts were changed to make the story more tragic, namely that Kate Winslett's husband was not, in fact, dead at the time of Barrie's involvement in their life. In the movie, they establish his death early on-a critical plot point that drives Peter's mistrust of life and grown-ups. Now, that I realise that this one crucial detail was a fabrication, I find myself unsure of how genuine the movie is. I feel manipulated and lied to!

Surely the humble truth would have been more interesting than this blatant attempt at milking more sympathy from the masses? I mean, Jesus, I know we live in a world where people who need everything spelt out to them in black and white..but this was precisely the kind of movie it WASN'T supposed to be. Finally, if you're making a movie about a magical premise, don't ruin it with lies to make it more touching. I don't want to be touched like that.

Winslett and, in particular, Depp are outstanding in this movie, which is something that is further fuelling my resentment. I liked them so much that I feel they've let me down even more.

Let's get one things straight, bastards: I'm not broken up about this and I'm not disproportionately angry or outraged or betrayed or anything like that. I've come to expect no less from the culture industry. It's just a disappointment, that's all.

And for everyone who loved this movie, I wanted to share this manipulation that has succeeded in turning me from a big fan of "Finding Neverland" to a reluctant one.