The Secret Garden

An orphaned girl raised in India moves to a distant English estate after an earthquake claims her parents. Sent to live with her aloof uncle, she encounters a chilly climate of secrets and propriety. Curious and resilient, she befriends Dickon, the kind-hearted son of the estate's keeper, and learns about her locked, neglected garden. With Dickon's help and new companionship, she begins reviving the once-forgotten space, discovering how tending soil can lift a heavy mood. Her bond with her cousin Colin Craven and the people around the manor deepens as the garden slowly transforms the house's atmosphere, hinting at hidden histories without revealing them. Each discovery quietly changes how she sees the world and the people around her at last.

Directed by Agnieszka Holland, this 1993 adaptation brings Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved novel to the screen with a screenplay by Caroline Thompson, pairing lush period detail with intimate character moments that emphasize growth and companionship for audiences young and old.

The film grossed around 40 million worldwide on an 18 million budget, making it a modest yet profitable live action family drama that found steady life in theaters, and later on home video and television repeat airings over the years.

While not a blockbuster, The Secret Garden became a touchstone for families seeking faithful adaptations of classic literature. Kate Maberly's fresh take on Mary Lennox and Maggie Smith's Mrs. Medlock are frequently cited in discussions of late 20th century British period cinema. Its atmosphere still influences later family dramas today.

Critics praised the performances, the film's warm tone, and Holland's restrained direction. The story centers on grief, resilience, and friendship, using a magical garden as a catalyst for healing Mary, her cousin Colin, and their world of adults who learn to listen and shape family films and stories today together.