Finding Neverland

See the movie "Finding Neverland" if you maintain a small piece of child within your adult body and mind. See it if you do not, so perhaps you might find that youthful sense of life once again.

"Finding Neverland" is the story based on the true story of James Matthew Barrie, the playwright who created Peter Pan. It details the connection between Barrie and the hard-luck family he befriends as his inspiration for Peter Pan. It is a lesson on staying young, allowing one's imagination to flourish and to always believe. Barrie takes the struggle of the ticking clock of life(the clock swallowing crock) and creates his Neverland as escape, solace and warm reminder.

Johnny Depp is his usual brilliant self in the portrayal of J.M. Barrie, and Julie Christie is at once suffocating and loving as Mrs. du Maurier. Her transformation is subtle, yet marvelously loving and passionate. Freddie Highmore is reserved, yet convincingly conflicted as young Peter Llewelyn Davies, the source of Barrie's Peter Pan, or so Barrie believes. Peter's line of "I just started writing and I couldn't stop" was felt by this poet with particular understanding.

Director Marc Forster has woven a brilliant story together into a touching portrait of the man behind Peter Pan. It is rare that a movie can make you smile and cry in the same breath, leaving the theater feeling somehow believing enough to fly.

Poem inspired by "Finding Neverland" is forthcoming.