{"id":5502,"date":"2020-02-28T15:07:19","date_gmt":"2020-02-28T22:07:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/?p=5502"},"modified":"2020-02-28T15:08:40","modified_gmt":"2020-02-28T22:08:40","slug":"wendy-a-soulful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/2020\/wendy-a-soulful\/","title":{"rendered":"Wendy * A Soulful Fantasy Drama Combining Drama With Adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/WendyPoster.jpg?resize=102%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5511\" width=\"102\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/WendyPoster.jpg?resize=203%2C300&amp;ssl=1 203w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/WendyPoster.jpg?w=675&amp;ssl=1 675w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 102px) 100vw, 102px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Lost on a mysterious island where aging\nand time have come unglued, Wendy must fight to save her family, her freedom,\nand the joyous spirit of youth from the deadly peril of growing up. KIDS FIRST!\nFilm Critic Zoe C. comments, \u201c<em>Wendy<\/em> is the new re-imagined version of\nthe Peter Pan story and a very thoughtful and meaningful film. It is\nbeautifully shot, and it reminds us of the power of imagination. <em>Wendy<\/em> is a very introspective story that\ncombines adventure with drama but is not a colorful vibrant tale\u2014instead it is\nfilled with some sadness and a little gloom.\u201d Katherine S. adds, \u201cThis soulful fantasy drama drew\nme in from the very beginning and never let up.&nbsp;\nIt is so visually stimulating, with a lot of different camera angles and\nincredible stunts. The location is both beautiful and exotic. It\u2019s the perfect\nsetting.\u201d See their full reviews&nbsp; below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wendy<br>By Zoe C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/scj5V4lb_rg\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Wendy<\/em> is the\nnew re-imagined version of the Peter Pan story and a very thoughtful and\nmeaningful film. It is beautifully shot, and it reminds us of the power of\nimagination. <em>Wendy<\/em> is a very\nintrospective story that combines adventure with drama but is not a colorful\nvibrant tale\u2014instead it is filled with some sadness and a little gloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.020_WE_SG_16811.jpg?resize=225%2C123&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5507\" width=\"225\" height=\"123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.020_WE_SG_16811.jpg?resize=300%2C164&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.020_WE_SG_16811.jpg?resize=1024%2C560&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.020_WE_SG_16811.jpg?resize=768%2C420&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.020_WE_SG_16811.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>Devin France and Yashua Mack in the film WENDY. Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. \u00a9 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Director Benh Zeitlin co-wrote this film with his sister Eliza, a story where a little girl, Wendy, assumes the role of a mother figure to her brothers.\u00a0 The story explores adulthood and the challenges of a new self-acquired freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trains pass everyday just next to\nWendy\u2019s house and everything shakes. Her life seems very methodical; she helps\nher mom at the dinner business that operates in the lower level of her house.\nOn the top level, she plays and uses her imagination reading books and\ndaydreaming about adventures. One day, when she is little, a kid disappears on\ntop of a train in front of her pretty blue eyes. Years later, she decides to\ndisappear on a train, too, followed by her brothers, curious to see what\nhappens at the end of the journey. She meets Peter Pan and arrives in a remote\nvolcano island. She also meets the kid that disappeared years ago, but he\nhasn\u2019t aged. She discovers the secrets behind staying forever as a kid as she\nlearns the importance of growing and enjoying every stage of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.005_WE_SG_16611.jpg?resize=225%2C123&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5505\" width=\"225\" height=\"123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.005_WE_SG_16611.jpg?resize=300%2C164&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.005_WE_SG_16611.jpg?resize=1024%2C560&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.005_WE_SG_16611.jpg?resize=768%2C420&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.005_WE_SG_16611.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>(From L-R): Devin France, Gavin Naquin, Gage Naquin, Romyri Ross and Yashua Mack in the film WENDY. Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. \u00a9 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The film was shot on location, in\nplaces that represented a real challenge to the crew. Zeitlin is a passionate\nfilmmaker who challenged himself filming in 16mm, a format that is artistic but\nrepresents more efforts, technically speaking. The format definitively adds\ntexture and works perfectly for the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The young actors were excellent; they\ntotally conveyed a wide range of emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Wendy <\/em>is\nabout lots of things; definitively a coming-of-age film where Wendy deals with\nthe fact of growing up and assuming responsibilities and being afraid of that.\nBut it is also about family, respect for nature and grown-ups and older people.\nAnd this is probably my only issue with this film &#8211; at times, it feels that it\nhas too many moments of symbolism which makes it hard to follow the main\npurpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The message of the film is we should\nalways remember the good things about being a child, keep a free spirit and use\nour imagination. But aging brings wisdom and we can\u2019t change the course of\nlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I give <em>Wendy<\/em> 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for kids age 10 to 18.\nSome images could be a little intense for young kids and this movie will not be\nvery easy to understand for kids under 10. <a><em>Wendy<\/em><\/a> opens February 28, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wendy<br>By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/u31QI7bemU0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>This soulful fantasy drama drew me in from the very\nbeginning and never let up.&nbsp; It is so\nvisually stimulating, with a lot of different camera angles and incredible\nstunts. The location is both beautiful and exotic. It\u2019s the perfect setting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.045_WE_SG_16626.jpg?resize=225%2C123&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5508\" width=\"225\" height=\"123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.045_WE_SG_16626.jpg?resize=300%2C164&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.045_WE_SG_16626.jpg?resize=1024%2C560&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.045_WE_SG_16626.jpg?resize=768%2C420&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.045_WE_SG_16626.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>Devin France in the film WENDY. Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. \u00a9 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Wendy<\/em>\nis a very different adaptation of the classic Peter Pan story. It follows a\nyoung girl named Wendy and her adventure to a mysterious island with her\nbrothers.&nbsp; Once on the island, they\ndiscover the wonders of nature, freedom and the surprising struggles of life.\nWendy fights to keep her family together, while trying to stay young. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Benh Zeitlin co-wrote the screenplay with his sister, Eliza Zeitlin, and also directs the film. The awesome thing about this twosome is that they didn\u2019t just, one day, think of this idea for a movie, but had the idea their whole lives. Benh also co-composed much of the dynamic music for the movie along with Dan Romer.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.082_WE_04788.jpg?resize=225%2C166&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5510\" width=\"225\" height=\"166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.082_WE_04788.jpg?resize=300%2C221&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.082_WE_04788.jpg?resize=768%2C565&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Wendy.082_WE_04788.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption>Devin France and Writer\/Director Benh Zeitlin on the set of WENDY. Photo by Jess Pinkham. \u00a9 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Wendy<\/em> was filmed on location in the Caribbean, using 16mm film versus a reliance on green screens for background settings. It features real nature! This movie has a wonderful cast of nonprofessional kids, such as Yashua Mack, who plays a very believable Peter. Gage and Gavin Naquin, as Wendy\u2019s brothers Douglas and James, have a visible bond with each other as brothers as well as in real life. My favorite character is Wendy (Devin France), because she is so brave, very curious, and has a kind spirit.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\u00a0 messages of this film are that it is okay to grow up, but never loose joy, hope, wonder and freedom and to confront, not escape, life\u2019s difficulties. This movie has some mild profanity, some gory images and some very risky adventures, but the last is on purpose because they wanted these kids to be free to do fun and dangerous things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I give this\nmovie 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18. Adults will also\nlike this movie. <em>Wendy <\/em>opens in theaters on February 28, 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lost on a mysterious island where aging and time have come unglued, Wendy must fight to save her family, her freedom, and the joyous spirit of youth from the deadly peril of growing up. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Zoe C. comments, \u201cWendy is the new re-imagined version of the Peter Pan story and a very thoughtful and meaningful film. It is beautifully shot, and it reminds us of the power of imagination. Wendy is a very introspective story that combines adventure with drama but is not a colorful vibrant tale\u2014instead it is filled with some sadness and a little gloom.\u201d Katherine S. adds, \u201cThis soulful fantasy drama drew me in from the very beginning and never let up.  It is so visually stimulating, with a lot of different camera angles and incredible stunts. The location is both beautiful and exotic. It\u2019s the perfect setting.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15],"tags":[1427,1405,1419,1415,1425,1411,1418,1406,1407,1404,267,1426,1413,551,1166,1421,1408,1410,1163,1416,1422,1414,1423,1409,1424,1412,1420,1417,211],"class_list":["post-5502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-feature-film-reviews","tag-affonso-goncalves","tag-ahmad-cage","tag-andy-eklund","tag-benh-zeitlin","tag-classic-tale","tag-dan-romer","tag-devin-france","tag-eliza-zeitlin","tag-gage-naquin","tag-jesy-rae-buhl","tag-katherine-schell","tag-krzysztof-meyn","tag-lance-mitchell","tag-movie-review","tag-movie-reviews","tag-never-grow-up","tag-neverland","tag-peter-pan","tag-reviews-by-kids-for-kids","tag-romyri-ross","tag-scott-cummings","tag-shay-walker","tag-stacy-jansen","tag-stephanie-lynn-wilson","tag-sturla-brandth-grovlen","tag-tommie-lynn-milazzo","tag-wendy","tag-yashua-mack","tag-zoe-cannella"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paS5I2-1qK","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5502"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5502\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5517,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5502\/revisions\/5517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}