Salvation and Sadness in Pooh Bear recollections

Witness a blast from childhood tinged with sadness.

Goodbye Christopher Robin focuses on author A.A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) who, after returning from service in World War I is struggling to come to terms with life after the war.

Milne finally finds inspiration in his son, Christopher Robin Milne (Will Tilston), during his playtime adventures with his toys.

From this, the classic tales of Winnie-the-Pooh were created; delighting children when they first published in the early 20th century and still enthrall them today.

Unfortunately, we also witness the negative effect that worldwide fame has on young Christopher, being constantly recognised by people out in public and facing bullying in school. His parents are also constantly away, causing a rift between them.

As someone who grew up being read stories of Winnie-the-Pooh, it was fascinating to learn about the author and where he got the ideas for his story.

The scenes where Milne is playing in the forest with his son are truly touching. You see the positive effect the innocent and imaginative Christopher has on his father, a man who is somewhat broken after fighting in a horrific war. It makes it even more heartbreaking when he and his son begin to drift apart.

Christopher’s nanny, Olive (Kelly Macdonald), also adds a great deal of heart to the film.

Margot Robbie, who portrays Milne’s wife Daphne, can be truly horrid at times.

She has no qualms about parading her son off to the world “like a show pony” but shows no sympathy for her husband, who is clearly suffering from PTSD (though I suppose that wouldn’t have been fully understood during the film’s setting).

Overall, this was good look into what the lives of A.A. Milne and his son may have been like. Suitable for an evening out at the cinema.