Wendy: A Unique Revision Of Peter Pan
Eight long years after Beasts of the Southern Wild took the world by storm, Benh Zeitlin has finally returned (from a wilderness of his own design) to take us on another epic adventure full of rambunctious children trying to navigate the world. With Wendy, Zeitlin reframes the story of Peter Pan through the eyes of the titular Wendy, creating a southern-fried, train-hopping, revisionist retelling full of poetic beauty and magical realism. It may not be quite the “beast” of Zeitlin’s debut, but for fans of his craft, it reaffirms his ability to capture the magic.
Lost on a mysterious island where aging and time have come unglued, Wendy (newcomer Devin France) must fight to save her family, her freedom, and the joyous spirit of youth from the deadly peril of growing up.
Wendy has been a longtime passion project for Zeitlin and his sister, Eliza (who also co-wrote the screenplay, in addition to serving as Production Designer), and it’s one that first began gestating in their early childhood. The siblings first became obsessed with the saga of Peter Pan while growing up in Queens, New York, and after the surprise breakthrough success of Beasts of the Southern Wild (which garnered Zeitlin sudden support from Searchlight Pictures), they seized the opportunity to bring their reimagining to the big screen. The journey toward the film’s completion was a long, arduous one that, in some respects, is just as adventure-filled as (or perhaps even more so than) the one that unfolds on screen.
Wendy’s development began shortly after Beasts’ release, and combined with all its production phases, it took roughly seven years to see through to the end. This was due to a number of factors. One of the chief hurdles was trying to find the right children to play each part — particularly central figures like Wendy and Peter Pan — was no small feat, and it not only included finding the right kid but also teaching them how to act. Another was finding the right location for “Neverland”, which required Zeitlin’s cast and crew to brave the many elements of nature, which included things like inclement weather, oceans, and volcanoes. The casting and location discovery process also spilled into the story’s evolution; Benh and Eliza would rework the script based on the ever-growing personalities of its cast (since they were all cast young and grew into the role) and each newfound shade of its Caribbean environment, finding their way as the production moved along.
All of this certainly shows on screen, and it manifests itself in both good and bad ways. There are times where it feels like it's dragging its feet, grappling for direction and occasionally winding up in the weeds, creating several lulls between its many moments of magic. Then there are other moments that are absolutely breathtaking and wholly inspired, which remind us adults of the feeling we once had as children. As precarious as Zeitlin’s approach may be, its continual narrative reshaping allowed Wendy to veer into thoroughly unexpected directions, most of which feel exhilarating and fresh (and just as surprising to the Zeitlins as they will be for general audiences).
Wendy feels very much like a continuation of Beasts of the Southern Wild, both visually and thematically— so much so that the two films could even coexist within the same universe; however, as the familiar swampy Louisiana vibe quickly melds into the sunny and tropical climes of the Caribbean, Wendy starts to step a bit more into its own (although, it’s always eclipsed by Beasts’ inarguable excellence). Zeitlin eschews a lot of the typical trappings of Peter Pan, abandoning all-out fantasy (like flying) in favor of a more grounded approach, allowing the magic to seep into the story in more tangible and altogether thrilling ways. While there are definitely moments that feel uneven or messy, Zeitlin maintains a nice balance between naturalistic realism and the fantastical, which (much like Beasts) gives the viewer the feeling that the real world, as boring as it is, is a genuine place of magic.
As far as Peter Pan films go, Wendy is easily one of the most nuanced and unique (up there with Hook, only less childish and cartoony), and Zeitlin adds a few welcome additions. The biggest of which is the creature “The Mother”, which is the source of continued youth in “Neverland” (if the children believe in her, they’ll stay young; if they don’t, they age). The creature design is really stunning, and it leads to a lot of Wendy’s most memorable moments. Zeitlin also builds in themes that feel larger and deeper than most typical children’s fare, like the despair of growing up on a dying planet. The notion of not wanting to grow up is definitely something kids should understand; however, most of the concepts and ideas is poignantly wrestles with feel somewhat beyond the reach of most young children. Still, the way Zeitlin twists the fear of growing old into a celebration of growing up, essentially serving as repudiation J.M. Barrie’s text, is a win in our book.
Recommendation: If you’re a fan of Beasts of the Southern Wild and want something that sets out to do something new with a story we’re all very very familiar with, definitely give Wendy a go when it releases. It’s doesn’t have quite the same impact as Beasts, but it’s still a testament to Zeitlin’s abilities as a visual storyteller.
Rating: 3.5 shadow puppets outta 5.
What do you think? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!