It’s been a while since I cried in a movie. If I’d been alone, I would’ve broken down and sobbed. As it was, I could barely breathe through my nose, and tears were continually leaking from my eyes again and again. I can’t even talk to my husband about it without my voice wavering.
I didn’t know P.L. Travers’ story. Somehow I knew she had been difficult to work with and that it took a while for her to agree to the movie, but I didn’t know everything else.
I didn’t know her story and how it was reflected in Mary Poppins.
I didn’t realize that Mr. Banks represented her father and that Mary Poppins was someone in her life that swooped in to save her family.
I didn’t know how much effort Walt Disney put into this movie and how a part of Mr. Banks reflected his life too. Gosh, talk about subtext and multiple meanings in a movie title.
I didn’t know how much heart and soul she put into the story of Mary Poppins.
But don’t most authors do that? It might not represent their life story so exactly but pieces of us are laced in our stories, possibly to the point that no one would know upon reading. Watching the movie I felt so many different emotions. I laughed. I felt empathy. I connected with another author who laid herself bare. No wonder she had a hard time letting someone else make a movie of what was essentially her life and her pain.
There’s not enough room without outlining the whole movie to explain all the facets that made this show so moving. You’ll have to watch it. Maybe you won’t cry because your life has been different than mine. Or maybe you will.
Here’s a fantastic article that calls Saving Mr. Banks a masterclass for authors.
If you’d like, share the last book or movie that touched your heart, mind and soul.
I want to see this movie so badly!!
I thought this movie looked good when I saw the trailer but now I’ve definitely going to see it! LOVE all your new book covers! (don’t know how new they are but they’re new to me!) they’re awesome!
You’ve got me dying to see this. Though I’ll have to wait to rent it and probably will be the only one in my family who wants to watch it. But it sounds so good.
I still need to see that movie. Will warn my wife about the crying.
I think opening oneself to such an extent is a mark of a great writer.
I really want to watch the movie, now. 😀
You have convinced me to go see this movie! I was considering it, but I wasn’t sure. Now I am. Guess I might want to wait for it to hit Vudu, though. I hate crying at the theater.
It’s a movie night in the making! =) I hate crying, especially in public.
To be honest, I didn’t have a huge desire to see this movie, but now I might have to, although I think I’ll leave the husband at home.
I want to see that movie. Thanks for the warning. Hope all is going well. Happy New Year.
Wow, I wanted to see this movie before but now I HAVE to! Talk about great word of mouth!
Now I want to see this movie! Thanks for your post, Laura!
Saving Mr. Banks completely absorbed me mind and heart. I have hard back copies of the Mary Poppins books I was given as a child – just like the one she held in the film. I ran home and hugged it.
You know, to be honest I hadn’t even considered the author facet of this movie. I kind of – I’m ashamed to say – dismissed it. But now I want to see it. So thank you.
Wow! Thanks everyone! People must feel strongly one way or the other about this post. Glad I could convince some of you to watch it even if it isn’t in the theater!
Okay, now I need to go see it, because while I’ve seen some good movies this year, I actually can’t remember the last movie that really got deep into my heart. Maybe the King’s Speech, but that was at least a couple years ago.