Some stories gently fade from our memories—others refuse to go away thanks to countless adaptations; “The Secret Garden” seems to fall into the latter category. Now—as if on cue—it’s time again for the classic tale to pop back into theaters. It falls on heavyweights of British cinema, Colin Firth and Julie Walters, to carry the dramatic weight. While more than capable on their own, together they feel like the perfect team for a much-needed reinvigoration.
The film’s synopsis:
Young Mary Lennox becomes an orphan in 19th-century India after her parents succumb to cholera. She’s sent to live with her uncle Archibald Craven in the English countryside and gets to know the servants, who become her only real friends in the large house. Her world changes dramatically, however, when a mysterious robin introduces her to a secret garden full of adventures, and she encounters a cousin she never knew she had.
Director Marc Munden could be another crucial piece in reviving the property. His work on the mini-series “National Treasure” might have been his most critically acclaimed, but it was his direction on “Utopia” that proves to be more interesting. Utilizing the source material—in this case a graphic novel—Munden took a dark subject matter and infused it with an atmosphere that almost breaks the viewer. Of course, relying on that same power when it’s material for children is something else altogether.
There’s more than one “National Treasure” connection behind the scenes. Jack Thorne, who wrote the mini-series, adapts Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic novel for Munden. Outside of the film, his most famous work for teens might just be writing for “Skins.” With its unforgiving realism, the series is a far cry from the idealistic images portrayed in the 1911 book.
The Secret Garden stars Dixie Egerickx, Maeve Dermody, Jemma Powell, Colin Firth, and Julie Walters. Watch the film’s first trailer below.