The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden is a cinematic adaption of the beloved literary classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Released in 2020, this visually lush and gorgeously crafted interpretation brings a fresh and contemporary lens to the tried and true story, making it both familiar and surprisingly new. The film stars the young and talented Dixie Egerickx, supported by Richard Hansell and David Verrey; their collective performances seamlessly blend the many themes of the narrative, resulting in a harmony of fantasy and reality, resilience and vulnerability, despair and hope.

Central to the plot is the precocious and intrepid protagonist, Mary Lennox (Egerickx). Initially residing in India amidst affluence and privilege, her life is suddenly turned upside down when she is orphaned due to a cholera outbreak. She is then sent to live with her uncle Archibald Craven (played by Colin Firth), in his cavernous and imposing manor in the Yorkshire moors of England. Mary, lonely and displaced, is thrust into a world starkly different from anything she has previously experienced, a world that is full of mysteries, secrets and seemingly endless exploration.

In the hauntingly vast and cold corridors of the manor, ruled by the stern housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock (Julie Walters), Mary lives a life of isolation. But the heart of the film truly begins to beat when she discovers a door leading to a hidden, overgrown garden. This lush and magical outdoor space becomes her haven, a place where her imagination thrives, and where she begins to see the world and herself in a new light.

A sense of adventure is sparked within her, and she covertly explores and nurtures the garden, revealing its enchanting beauty. The garden, once neglected and inaccessible, is transformed through Mary’s tenacity; much like Mary herself. The film brilliantly embodies the metaphorical transformation, paralleling the growth of the garden with the growth of our young heroine as she learns about family, friendship, sadness, and joy.

Dixie Egerickx delivers an emotive performance, oscillating masterfully between a cultivated air of eliteness and an innocent longing for familial warmth. At the same time, Richard Hansell and David Verrey lend solid support, effectively navigating their respective roles with nuance and sensitivity. Each character is intricately developed, with their own individual story arcs that adds depth and power to the overall narrative.

Visually, the film is near enchanting. The cinematography captures the gothic starkness of the mansion contrasted against the wild-born beauty of the secret garden. Celebrated producer David Heyman, known for a host of iconic films including the Harry Potter series, and director Marc Munden, have collaborated to create an atmosphere that feels almost dreamlike, using the backdrop of stunning sceneries to reinforce narrative themes and character developments.

The Secret Garden, while rooted in a story almost a century old, is informed beautifully with modern sensibilities. It deals with themes of loneliness, grief, and recovery sensitively without undermining the complexities. The narrative journeys with Mary as she discovers that the world is not merely a place of sorrow; it's also a place where beauty and joy can be cultivated, much like her secret garden.

An enchanting interplay between fantasy and reality underpins this rendition of The Secret Garden. The film makes good use of magical realism, where the mundane world is often shimmering with elements of the extraordinary. There's a distinctive nod towards the power of providence, the magic that can happen when we care for the spaces around us and the people in our lives.

Overwhelmingly, the film underscores the idea that courage, hope, and resiliency can bloom even under the most unfavorable conditions. Whether you're a fan of the classic tale or a newcomer to the story, The Secret Garden (2020) is a beautifully composed, heartwarming film exploring the resilience and transformative power of the human spirit and the magic that lies in caring for others and the world around us. It’s a poignant reminder of the inherent magic in the everyday and the exceptional power of hope and love in the face of adversity.