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Actors: Kate Maberly, Maggie Smith, John Lynch, Irčne Jacob, Heydon Prowse, Andrew Knott, Laura Crossley
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Secret Garden (1993) |
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Based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved novel, this film centers on a youngster named Mary Lenox, who is being brought up by her colonialist parents in India. When her mother and father are killed, Mary is transplanted to her uncle's baronial estate in England. Unfortunately, Uncle Archibald is despondent over the death of his wife and the frail health of his only child, Colin, and thus keeps his niece at arm's length.
Mary begins to explore her new surroundings and discovers the existence of her bedridden cousin. She also happens upon a secret garden that had been her aunt's hideaway. Mary and Colin, along with a local lad named Dickon, decide to surreptitiously resurrect the neglected patch of land. This, in turn, leads to a nurturing interrelationship between the three children.
--Elana Starr, Resident Scholar
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THE SECRET GARDEN, based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel, has been directed by polish born director Agnieszka Holland in 1993.
Late XIXth century. India. Mary Lennox is a 10 years old english girl neglected by her parents too busy with their social duties. They die during an earthquake, leaving Mary alone. She returns to England, in her uncle's mansion lost in the british moors. Mrs. Medlock, the severe housekeeper, reigns over the manor as Mary's uncle, Lord Craven, is most of the time away mourning the death of his wife who died ten years before by giving birth to his only son Colin. Lord Craven avoids seeing his son who spends his days lying in his bed and crying ; unable to walk, the young boy hasn't seen the sunlight for years and is convinced he shall die very soon.
Meanwhile, Mary has found the key of the garden of her aunt, where she passed a lot of time when still alive. Helped by Dickon, a young country boy, she decides to make it alive once again by putting plants and seeds in it. Then, exasperated by Colin's depressive attitude, she begins to disobey's Mrs. Medlock's orders and forces Colin to get out of his room. She drives him into his mother's garden and brings back Colin to a new life.
Great adaptation of the well-known novel.
--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Secret Garden (1993) |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 19th century
Kids growing up/acting up?
Yes
Kids:
- left in charge while parents away
- fighting with parents
Family, caring for sick?
Yes
Who is sick?
- Son
because he/she is
- physically ill
Inner struggle or disability
Yes
Struggle with
- (General) search for meaning/identity
Parent(s) gone?
- Orphan story
Brain/Body not working?
- physical disability
Coping with loss of loved one?
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- a teen
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
- red
Hair type
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
Events of movie makes character more...
- happy
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- red
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
How much in movie?
- 40%
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
- general circumstances
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- servant
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Asia/Pacific/Middle East
Yes
Asian country:
- India
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- very happy
- spiritual
Non-American film?
Yes
What language?
- English
If this is a kid's movie...
- Ages 10-15
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Elana Starr
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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