Wendy Is a Surreal Reimagining of the Peter Pan Story

For over 100 years the story of Peter Pan has enchanted children and adults. Originally a play and novel by J. M. Barrie, it has been adapted many times in almost every form of entertainment and is well known by most Western audiences. This year’s retelling, Wendy, is director Benh Zeitlin’s sophomore film—following his 2012 breakout hit, Beasts of the Southern Wild—and it feels similar to his previous work. This version of Peter Pan is not necessarily for children, not because it is too violent or upsetting (although at times it is both of those) but because it is a story about children from the perspective of an adult who aims to portray the essence of childhood and the reality of innocence.

Devin France as the titular character in Wendy. Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Wendy (Devin France) and her twin brothers, Doug (Gage Naquin) and James (Gavin Naquin), live with their mother next to a railroad station above a café and bar that she owns and runs. The responsible Wendy waits tables and helps her mother while the boys go out turtle catching, but at night she tells herself stories of adventure and is determined to never grow up and become a boring adult. One night, a train stops next to their window, and a young boy comes knocking before scampering back to the train and away up the cars. Wendy is immediately entranced by him and pulls her brothers along after her onto the train, hopping from car to car trying to catch up to the mysterious child.

After a long journey on the train, and then by boat, the young boy, Peter (Yashua Mack), leads them to a small island with verdant lands and a towering smoking volcano. There they meet the Lost Boys, a small group of kids, all running wild through the jungle and forests with nary an adult in sight. Before they can blink, the three siblings are drawn into a world of play, with no days, just time blurring together from one moment to the next. But all good things come to an end, and when the children go exploring in an old ship that is half sunk in the bay, tragedy strikes. This sets off a series of events that forces Wendy to take extraordinary measures to save the ones she loves and, in the process, confront the reality of growing up.

Wendy is not a typical adaptation of Peter Pan: there are no fairies or mermaids, no one can fly, and the conflict of the story becomes deadly serious before the end. It does have a sense of magical realism, just enough to keep the viewer guessing as to how the story will play out. The focus of the film is, as you might expect, on Wendy, who is living on the cusp of growing up and doing her best to walk right up to the line but never put even a toe over it. Peter plays a large role, but he remains an enigmatic figure whose motivations and background remain murky up until the end of the film. The major plot points of the book are all represented in some fashion, but the story Zeitlin weaves between those points is entirely new.

Alone on the island. Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

For the majority of the run time, it is only children on screen, and their performances needed to be fantastic to make the film work. Thankfully they are all good, and Devin France does a commendable job as the intense and determined title character. She is fierce and vulnerable at points throughout the film, showing a range that is impressive for her age. Yashua Mack makes his Peter feel otherworldly and fay, which perfectly matches the tone of the film once the kids have left home.

Wendy will not appeal to everyone. Its artistic sensibilities, measured pacing, and abstract themes may set it at odds with families, the usual audiences for Peter Pan stories, and those who aren’t interested in surreal films. None of those things impact the quality, however—this is a film that knows exactly what it wants to be and succeeds admirably. Each choice feels well thought out and purposeful, from the gorgeous cinematography to the haunting score. The script uses the original work well, with only occasional quotes directly from Barrie’s text, but it manages to grasp the essence of the story all the same. This is a film for those who can appreciate an ethereal and modern reimagining of a classic story.