I remember seeing it in the theater and being incredibly moved by the story. (translation: I was ugly crying.) I have always loved Mary Poppins. It’s the kind of movie that makes me happily tap my feet and want to go fly a kite.
But I knew nothing of the origin. I didn’t know that Mary Poppins was based on a popular book series. Nothing of P.L. Travers. It was just a name I overlooked during the opening credits.
Saving Mr. Banks is the kind of movie that will make your heart break and rejoice. I love everything about it. But there were two moments in Mr. Banks that really resonated with me.
It’s the relationship between P.L. Travers and Ralph, the chauffeur. The scene where Ralph reveals his daughter, Jane, has “problems” (she’s in a wheelchair) – I lose it. Every. Single. Time. Ralph explains why he always comments on the weather and loves sunny days because it means his daughter can sit out in the garden. Ralph was the character I identified with the most. He says what so many special needs parents have in the back of their mind – that it’s easy to worry about her future, but he can only worry about the present. “Only today,” he says. And while he says those words with conviction, there is still uncertainty in his eyes. (That’s the power of great acting.)
And then there was the scene when P.L Travers gives Ralph a list of famous people (Frida Kahlo, Albert Einstein, Van Gogh, Roosevelt). When Ralph questions the list, Travers says, “They all had difficulties. Jane can do anything that anyone else can do, do you understand?”
The producers could have used any number of story lines, but I am happy that they used a special needs parents aspect to give P.L. Travers humanity and warmth. It’s a moment of transformation. I would loved the movie either way, but Paul Giamatti’s character gave me something to identify with and his relationship with P.L. Travers gave me something to be inspired by.
image: via Disney.com
I loved watching saving me banks! Mary Poppins holds a special place in my heart so it was very interesting to see another side of how the books came to be.
I've yet to see the movie but it's been on my list to watch. Thanks to this, I'm now looking forward to seeing it even more. Thank you!
You bring the moment to life, Lisa. Not only have I not seen this movie, but I haven't seen Mary Poppins, either!
I agree totally with this. Saving Mr. Banks has become one of my favorite movies ever. I truly believe that it is a great film.
I feel you so much. But this film touched me from another angle. I AM the kid with the special needs. And Mrs. Travers words felt like she was talking directly to me. Now I am twenty now, I have become much more high functioning. Noone would believe I had autism, didnt I tell them all sooner or later. This movie told me exactly the things I needed to hear on exactly the right day. Because I too have been chained down to a story. A story of my life that I have let my past write for me. In that story, I need to overcome adversity, and fight like a book hero for my survival. Happiness was always an afterthought. And as I began to think about happiness, I thought I could also only achieve it after I go through trials. So I set myself sky high goals that are hard even for the average Person to achieve. But what If all my pain in the past was supposed to gain one thing: the freedom to face each day lighthearted, and what if overcoming struggles just means the freedom to life for the present again, but this time in a happy way, that doesnt feel like borrowed time? I want to believe that this is better than living for the fight. No matter how great or small, there is only ever today. No matter how abled or not, Life lies tangible in the air of the moment, if we only choose to see it.
And still, I will never give up my dreams,for I can do anything Frida Kahlo, Albert Einstein, Vang Gogh, Walt Disney or just any normal person can do.