For anyone who loves 'Mary Poppins' this film gives a real insight into who inspired the beloved characters: Mary Poppins, Bert and of course Mr Banks and the rest of the Banks'. You begin to understand that Mary Poppins didn't come to save the children, she came to save their father and reconnect him with his family.
We learn through flashbacks in the film that Travers' own father suffered from alcohol misuse and suffered a short, bleak end to his life due to his stressful job as a bank manager. Her father is clearly reflected in the character of Mr Banks, however Travers (played by Emma Thompson) changed Mr Banks' ending to a happier more pleasant one and I think this may have been her way of seeing her father, who she adored dearly, live on.
As a result of the hardship Travers suffered in her early years we see she has become very headstrong and abrupt, she refuses to let Walt Disney (played by Tom Hanks) turn Mary Poppins into one of his "silly cartoons" and also claims that "Mary Poppins does not sing" which causes trouble for the Sherman brothers. However, by the end of the film we come to understand why Travers was so protective of her characters and we see that she has become more accepting of Disney and his work, even though she famously disliked the film.
This is a must see for anyone who is a big fan of 'Mary Poppins', it will tear at your heartstrings but from it you will begin to understand everything.
xx Beth xx
