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Phoebe in WonderlandDirected by Daniel Barnz, 2008 By Alyce Wilson The Philadelphia Film Festival screened the East Coast premiere of Phoebe in Wonderland, directed by Daniel Barnz and starring Elle Fanning, Patricia Clarkson, Felicity Huffman and Bill Pullman. The movie tells the story of Phoebe (Elle Fanning), a 10-year-old girl who often retreats from the real world into her fantasy world, based on Alice in Wonderland, which is the subject of a scholarly book by her mother (Felicity Huffman). When Phoebe starts exhibiting strange behaviors, such as spitting at other children or blurting out rude statements, her mother assumes she's acting out because she's not getting enough attention. A new drama teacher (Patricia Clarkson) mounts a production of Alice in Wonderland, and Phoebe tries out and gets the lead, discovering a hidden talent for acting. She befriends a boy who aspires to be an actor and who insists on playing the Queen of Hearts, despite teasing from fellow classmates. But while she finds a creative freedom on the stage, her behavioral problems elsewhere continue, and her parents seek answers. This is an incredible film for many reasons. First, it's beautifully shot. The contrast between the fantasy world and the real world is nicely done, with bright colors and distorted angles, as if the fantasy world is simply entering the real world. The acting is superb, both from the adults and the children, particularly when you consider how easy it might have been to read the same lines and turn this film into a movie-of-the-week. Instead, the cast imbued the words with textured emotion, making the story come alive. More importantly, this film can open minds about the issue of childhood mental health and how families cope with a child who has problems. Rating: **** (Must See) Philadelphia Film Festival 2008
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