Goodbye Christopher Robin
Dir: Simon Curtis
2017
****
I adore the 1970s Disney adaptations of Winnie the Pooh but it is fair to say that Disney have taken the story of Christopher Robin and his friends to an unrecognisable state compared to their original conception. However, the commercialisation of A. A. Milne’s stories began well before Disney bought the rights and in some respect, influenced Disney in the way they commandeer children's entertainment. The truth behind the real Christopher Robin is less well known and beautifully brought to life in Simon Curtis’ wonderful 2017 drama. Written by Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Simon Vaughan, Goodbye Christopher Robin explores the origins of Winnie the Pooh and reveals the real boy of the stories. The tale is not a happy one. It is refreshing to watch a drama based on truth that sticks to the truth. The story was meticulously fact-checked and nothing is sensationalised or exaggerated. Christopher Robin had a distant relationship with his father and a troubled relationship with his mother. A. A. Milne suffered years of Shell-shock after returning from the Battle of the Somme and found it hard to write the successful work he was known for before war broke out in Europe. He was struggling to write an anti-war piece when he was unexpectedly left alone with his son for a few days after his wife was away enjoying the high-life in London and the nanny was called home to attend her sick mother. Milne and his son went on long walks and he entertained his Son’s imagination and after playing with his son’s toys the seed of the Winnie the Pooh tales was planted. Milne was suddenly popular again and his son was thrust into the limelight as the real Christopher Robin. The truth boarders on child abuse, not only was the brief connection with his father shattered, he soon found himself the target of bullies and the press, leading to a very unhappy childhood – a million miles away from the Christopher Robin in the books. His childhood was over before it could be saved but perhaps the biggest regret came for Milne when Robin enlisted into the Army to serve in WW2, making Milne’s worst nightmares a reality. It is a brutally honest depiction of the relationships behind the fantasy and I think when the truth of any story such as this is adapted truthfully it should be celebrated and remembered. The direction is perfect, it depicts a life the family had and the backdrop behind the animations beautifully. I’ve liked everything Domhnall Gleeson has been in but I think this is his best performance so far, Oscar worthy but totally overlooked. I think Margot Robbie did well to accept her role too, her’s is not a likable character and I’m sure she was probably advised against it at this stage in her career but she was perfect. Kelly Macdonald was lovely as Robin’s nanny, his surrogate mother who also appeared in the original stories. It may take off the sugar coating of the original children’s stories for some but personally I think it is always important to know the truth and to see that there is always more to it than meets the eye. The worst thing you can do is go through life believing that everything is warm and fluffy.