Not exactly the true story of J M Barry and the Davis family

Rating: 7/10 (10 February 2005)

This sounds like a wonderful movie, which I want to see, but what it isn't is the true story of JM Barrie.
From reading others comments its obvious that there is many inaccuracies in the film regarding the true nature of the relationship between JM Barrie and the Davis family.
Firstly when Barrie met the family, the father was still alive, and according to letters written by both the father and the mother, his interest was not particularly welcomed. This is documented in a biography of Barrie, published about 10 years ago. According to this version, the Davises found his obsession with the boys and constant attempts to put himself in the family's inner circle intrusive and pitiable.
However when the father was struck down with a particularly nasty facial cancer, causing him to be hospitalized, his jawbone to be removed,and eventually killing him, Barrie seized on the opportunity to prove his devotion to the family, visiting him in hospital and taking it upon himself to be a protector to Sylvia and boys, much to everyones dismay. After her husband's death, If I remember correctly Sylvia and Barrie did marry in the end, but only because he hounded her persistently and having no other means, Sylia needed his help financially. I think this would have made an interesting picture, but obviously not the "touching and heartwarming" tear jerker described in these pages. Don't get me wrong, I think fictionalizing the truth often does make for a better story, but what I find annoying is when people believe something as the literal truth, because they saw it in a movie. Movies about historical events and real people should serve as springboard for those that are interested to dig a bit deeper and find the true story for themselves.