Fans of fairy tales have a hybrid story to dissect in Come Away, which turns Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland into siblings going through a family crisis. The film, which is out today both in select theaters and on VOD, revolves around children whose loving home is rocked by tragedy.
Directed by Brenda Chapman (Brave), Come Away focuses on Alice (Keira Chansa) and Peter (Jordan Nash) as they become increasingly alienated from their parents (played by David Oyelowo and Angelina Jolie). Instead, they retreat into a world of imagination - which may or may not be real - to find comfort and perhaps salvation for their family.
Oyelowo and Chansa spoke to Screen Rant about the shadows that haunt the Littleton family, how they found joy in the midst of it, and why it's so significant that classic fairy tales can included families that look their own.
Jack's past casts a long shadow, if you will, over his present and over his family situation. Can you talk about what background work you did for him before coming onto the set?
David Oyelowo: Well, I'm a father of four. And so, a lot of my work was bringing my own experience to the film. The long shadow you reference is not necessarily something that's within my own experience, but I do know that the choices you make as a parent definitely reflect on your children. And that one of the things you're trying to do the best is to not have any of your mistakes in any way negatively impacts your kids.
But being imperfect is just part of the reality of being a parent, and that was one of the things I really related to before I jumped onboard the film.
Keira, the dynamic between Alice and her brothers is such a core part of the film. How did you view her relationship with Peter and David, and how did you three connect off screen?
Keira Chansa: Yeah. Come Away, for me, was just like, a second family. And it was amazing, with Jordan and Reese, I think we had as much fun on screen as we did off screen. We connected so well, and we just had a really nice relationship and got along really well.
Of course, the relation between Alice and her parents is very complicated throughout the film. What was it like finding the right balance between the tension and the familial love?
Keira Chansa: Yeah, I think for me, in between, it was that there was always fun. There was always fun in the family. There was a few dull moments, but then we used that. We said, "Well, sometimes there is sad things happening. But we've just got to make a good thing out of the present."
Do you guys have any of your own favorite fairy tales that Come Away reminded you of, or that you would put together?
David Oyelowo: Well, for me personally, one of my favorites has always been Peter Pan. I really loved growing up the notion of staying a kid forever. It wasn't until I got a bit older that I realized that wasn't necessarily the way to be going into my adulthood.
But that was one of the reasons why jumping onboard this was so exciting, because even though I loved that fairy tale growing up, I just never thought I would get to be a part of it. Let alone see someone who looks like me or looks like my kids playing Alice or Peter. That's just one of the things that is so magnificent about this, and I know Angelina Jolie felt the same, which is why she jumped on board. She also has kids who look like Keira and Jordan and Reese, and to have this fairy tale told through that lens is something that I just think has a - hopefully - real cultural impact.
Come Away is out November 13 in theaters and on demand.