The Secret Garden is a 1993 film adaptation of the 1909 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The film was directed by Agnieszka Holland.
Plot
The recently-orphaned Mary Lennox travels from her home in India to her uncle Archibald Craven's hundred-room house, Misselthwaite Manor, in Yorkshire, England. Mary, materially spoiled but emotionally neglected by her late parents, killed by an earthquake, is rather unpleasant and unhappy in her new surroundings. Martha, a Yorkshire girl working as a maid, and her brother Dickon Sowerby, a boy who can "talk" to animals, befriend and help her to heal and grow. She discovers her deceased aunt's secret garden, which has been locked for ten years and enlists Dickon to help her bring it to life.
Hidden away in the gloomy house is Mary's cousin Colin, who has been treated all his life like a fragile, sickly invalid. This exaggeration has augmented what smaller problems he did have, turning him into a demanding, short-tempered, helpless boy. Mary, defying the orders of Mrs Medlock (who runs Misselthwaite), discovers Colin and is taken aback by his disposition, but reaches out to him anyway. Soon Colin, Mary, and Dickon all spend their time in the secret garden. They perform "magic"; barefoot, they make a large bonfire and play a flute, dance round it, and chant, while Colin asks the magic to send his father. Colin learns to walk and gets quite well, which his father Archibald discovers upon his return to Misselthwaite.
Main cast
Production
Yorkshire's imposing Allerton Castle stood in for most of the exterior shots of Misselthwaite Manor, and some of the interior was also used. Fountains Hall was also used for part of the Manor's exterior.[citation needed]
Holland was already internationally famous a a director before the making of the film; in making this film she continued to work outside of Poland.[1]
Soundtrack
The film features the end credits song "Winter Light" performed by Linda Ronstadt, which is based on two themes from the score by Zbigniew Preisner.[citation needed] However, the song is not featured in the film's original soundtrack, but in Ronstadt's eponymous album Winter Light.[citation needed]
The soundtrack, released by Varèse Sarabande, contains the original score.[citation needed]
Reception
Since its 1993 release, the film has garnered exceptionally positive reviews and currently garners a 100% "fresh" approval rating on the Rotten Tomatoes website, based on 16 reviews.[2]
According to Box Office Mojo, the film has a domestic gross of $31,181,347.[3]
Awards and nominations
Award wins
Award nominations
Sequel
In 2000, a sequel was made, Back to the Secret Garden. Misselwaite manor is now an orphanage for children who has lost their parents in the war. The story follows a young American girl named Lizzie who discovers the secret garden dying from neglect.
References
External links
