Wendy (2020)

Directed by: Benh Zeitlin | 111 minutes | drama, fantasy | Actors: Devin France, Yashua Mack, Gage Naquin, Gavin Naquin, Ahmad Cage, Krzysztof Meyn, Romyri Ross, Lowell Landes, Kevin Pugh, Shay Walker, Stephanie Lynn Wilson, Pamela Harper, Cleopatra King Welch, Allison Campbell, Catherine Ott, Tommie Lynn Milazzo, Levy Easterly, John Belloni, Logan Jones, Luke Jones

‘Wendy’ is not only a character from ‘Peter Pan’, but also a recent major production from Fox Searchlight. Filmed mainly on location in North America (the state of Louisiana and the island of Montserrat), we follow the adventures of a group of children on an island that promises eternal youth, not entirely coincidentally a motif from ‘Peter Pan’.

Although blessed with a reasonable tension and a visually stimulating experience, ‘Wendy’ remains more on the surface. While the novel alludes to adult psychology, this reworking is a pure adventure film for children. And what’s wrong with that? Nothing, as long as archetypes from the childhood experience are respected.

Everlasting friendships, the need for play and freedom: we all know it. ‘Wendy’ shows itself to be an adult youth film for many ages. We follow the adventures of the main character (France) and her friends, mainly boys like – yes – Peter (Mack). Wendy has to try to preserve her youth under difficult circumstances, a certain change of perspective in the story of ‘Peter Pan’.

Wendy knows she will eventually have to put aside her childhood commitments; before that, she experiences adventures to save her youthful soul, including with pirates. The film occasionally indulges in soaring intermezzos and dramatic music, but children can have a lot as long as they enjoy themselves.

The adequate cinematographer Benh Zeitlin, a thirty-something with 2 Oscar nominations for screenplay and directing in 2013, has been sitting still for a long time. Why? Uncalled for. Film talent has eternal youth. Perhaps this independent filmmaker himself resembles Peter Pan, trying to preserve his youthful independence. We don’t need him to grow up.