Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Return to Hogwarts: A sentimental callback to a beloved franchise

I remember it like it happened yesterday—hanging about the Landmark Store in Chennai about 15 years ago, standing in a serpentine line that stretched as far as the eye could see. The pre-ordered fifth book—Order of the Phoenix—was handed out after a couple of hours of waiting, and I was thrilled to discover that it was a whopping 700-odd pages long. Unlike viewers today who get dispirited by film durations more than 150 minutes, back then, the longer the art experience, the more excited you got. I remember being so hopped-up by the idea of a new book that I joined dozens of youngsters to sit by the stairs of Spencer Plaza and begin reading the book; you see, we just couldn’t wait, not even to get home. It’s with similar imagery—of people congregating to wait for the books, of the frenzy around every new Potter book—that this reunion special begins. And that’s perhaps why it’s hard to forgive this film for not having JK Rowling play an integral part (there’s the occasional old footage of her speaking about the cast or exclaiming wonder at The Great Hall set). She, after all, was the architect, the miracle writer who brought back an entire generation to reading. She’s a big miss in this film.

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Alfonso Cuaron, Christopher Columbus, David Yates, Mike Newell

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video (From January 1, 2022)

And yet, you think of her everywhere, because it’s impossible to discuss the Harry Potter films without speaking of the admirable themes of the stories. When James and Oliver Phelps talk of twins being featured in very few stories; when Rupert Grint talks of the Weasleys and how their welcoming nature is in contrast to the Malfoys; when Mike Newell speaks of how Cedric Diggory’s death reminds everyone that the series is about death, not life; when Emma Watson talks of the many strong women characters; when David Yates talks of how the ‘oddness’ of characters like Luna Lovegood isn’t just normalised but valourised… Rowling and her literature is everywhere in this reunion film, even if her physical presence isn’t.

There’s plenty of film footage used—and largely, it’s to make a point. Harry Potter 20th Anniversary — Return to Hogwarts, approaches the films chronologically, as the relevant cast members and director reminisce. When filmmakers of the calibre of Alfonso Cuaron (Prisoner of Azkaban) speak, insights are usually not too far away—like when he shares that the final shot of Sirius Black flying away on a hippogriff was meant to signify his liberation, not just externally in terms of the prison life he has escaped from, but internally as well, given that the person he loves the most, Harry Potter, is now aware of who his godfather is. It’s also fascinating to observe the respect the lead cast members retain for Christopher Columbus (Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets), who began it all for this film franchise. That’s perhaps why Daniel Radcliffe believes that the director didn’t quite get his due for the work he did in establishing the franchise’s foundations.

The interest of this reunion special is, however, not so much on analysis of the story or on delineating filmmaking choices. It’s on the dynamics of its cast members, with understandable focus on the main three, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, who exchange pleasantries and later, share nostalgic anecdotes and heartfelt admissions. We learn quite a bit about them: their auditions, their interactions on the sets, their camaraderie… Columbus talks of how Watson and Grint are pretty much the same people as their characters. Cuaron shares a memorable anecdote about how he handed out assignments to the cast and while Watson came back with 12 pages of writing—like Hermione would—Grint didn’t and offered the excuse that Ron would not have either. These little pockets of association with the Harry Potter universe are quite heartwarming. By and large, the film is about these cast members fondly looking back. Coming fast on the heels of the F.R.I.E.N.D.S reunion, it’s hard to miss the parallels—like when the cast members speak of how their lives are inextricably wound, and how the shared challenges of their unique lives have forged an unshakeable bond.

This largely Christmas-y reunion begins to get interesting when you learn that Emma contemplated leaving the franchise mid-way, after the release of The Goblet of Fire. However, the film doesn’t quite delve into the how and why of her change of heart. The film also briefly flirts with some complex problems, like the negative effects of fame. Rupert Grint also talks of merged identities and how after having been Ron Weasley for over a decade, he isn’t exactly sure who he really is. For these actors who grew up on film sets, the Harry Potter franchise is a boon, but also potentially a curse, it seems.

This reunion film, unlike Rowling’s books though, doesn’t linger on darkness or is interested in any deep exploration of it, opting instead to evoke nostalgic tears and affectionate smiles. And so, quickly, the film has Watson speak of the early crush she had on Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), and how while they were never involved romantically, there’s still a lot of love between them. Grint and Watson too speak of a shared love, which they are both eager to clarify isn’t romantic at all—and the former briefly touches upon how horrific it was to kiss him for Deathly Hallows. You see the difficult positions cinema puts these youngsters in. It’s also fascinating—and rather tragic—that all three main actors grew up under the shadows of Rowling’s fictional characters. A deeper film might have explored these angles more satisfactorily.

This film aims—like Radcliffe, Watson and Grint—to indulge in nostalgia, to point out the paradox of how a time that’s not so far away already feels forgotten. Among the many genuine moments of warmth is when the actors wrestle with the realisation that many top actors that they had shared a bond with, including Richard Harris (the original Dumbledore), Alan Rickman (Snape), Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley), and John Hurt (Ollivander), have all passed away. It’s a touching ode and a brief reconciliation with death, not dissimilar to the exploration in Rowling’s books.

The fundamental utility of such reunion specials is in the opportunity they offer to have us examine our own past that is, like these actors’, inextricably linked to such works of art. Grint talks of how he remembers the landmarks in his life—like getting a driving licence, for example—based on the Harry Potter film he was doing then. He may not know, but us, readers and viewers, have a similar association as well. And that’s why I couldn’t stop thinking of that day a decade and a half ago when I stood outside the Landmark Store at dawn for a book. As Watson says at the end, perhaps channelling her inner Hermione, “When things get really hard, stories give us places where we can rest… and feel held.” So, while Grint may believe that the cast have probably not earned this reunion already, any time, it seems to me, is a good time to remind us of the transience of time and life. What better way to begin a new year than with this realisation?