The Secret Garden

DIRECTOR MARC MUNDEN

RELEASE DATE 10 APRIL

STARRING DIXIE EGERICKX, COLIN FIRTH, JULIE WALTERS, EDAN HAYHURST, AMIR WILSON

CERTIFICATE PG

RUNNING TIME 99 MINS

EVERY GENERATION DESERVES ITS OWN VERSION OF THE SECRET GARDEN. Frances Hodgson Burnett’s1911novelhasbeen broughtto television, film andstage countless times (the firstbackin1919), and along the way, suchtalents as Dame Maggie Smith, Sir DerekJacobi, Billie Whitelaw andHonor Blackmanhave allplayedin it. Now ColinFirthandJulie Walters canbe addedto that illustrious list.

Director Marc Munden, whose credits include TV dramas Utopia andElectric Dreams, andscreenwriter JackThorne (The Aeronauts, Harry Potter And The Cursed Child) returnto Burnett’s bookto introduce this magicalstory to anew audience. As readers will know, the story focuses on 10-year-oldMary Lennox (The Little Stranger’s Dixie Egerickx), aspiritedgirlwho spenther early years in Indiawithher parents.

Now orphaned, Mary is sentto the Yorkshire estate ofher uncle, LordArchibald Craven(ColinFirth), whose ownwife –sister to Mary’s mother –has also died. The house is runby Mrs Medlock(Julie Walters), withamaidcalledMartha (Isis Davis), who looks after Mary’s needs. Mary has the freedomto roamandsoon makes itbeyondthe grounds, where she befriends ashaggy dog. Her insatiable curiosity, withthe help ofavery friendly robin, eventually leads her to finding arusty ironkey. No prizes for guessing thatthis is for the door thatopens into abeautifulhidden garden, butthe gardenis not the only discovery; inher uncle’s house, she finds Colin(EdanHayhurst), her timidcousinwho is bed-boundthroughillness.

Mary is convincedthe gardenwillhelp to heal Colin, who hasn’tleftthe house –or evenhis bed–for years. Mundenandhis hugely talentedteam ensure thatthis beautifully sun-dappledgardendoes indeedfeellike itcouldcure allailments. Cunningly shot invarious real-life locations, including Cornwall, Somersetandthe Forestof Dean, it’s the sortof Eden-like paradise you mightfindMonty Don tending inGardeners’ World.

As such, the filmhas arealmagicalquality, equating Mother Nature withthe sprawling, wildness ofMary’s fertile imagination. Alongside this, the heartof The Secret Garden comes fromthe performances, notably Egerickx, who gives anutterly charming turnas Mary. She’s joinedby the excellentAmir Wilsonas Dickon, Martha’s younger brother, who joins her on these adventures. The emotionalballastofthe story comes fromColin Firth, who comes fullcircle inaway –he playedthe adultColinCraven, briefly, in a1987 TVversionofthe story. Finally, adding her immense presence, Julie Walters is typically commanding as Mrs Medlock, the matronly housekeeper who barely has time for ayoung tearaway like Mary.

Productiondesigner GrantMontgomery creates animpressive design scheme, particularly Lord Craven’s scorchedestate withits gutteddriveway, andcostume designer Michele Clapton(Game Of Thrones, The Crown) crafts some beautifulgarments, giving audiences muchto admire here. This is afamily filminthe truestsense of the term, andwilltouch adults, especially those who are fondofBurnett’s novel, as wellas children.

Producedby David HeymanandRosie Alison, the teambehindthe Harry Potterseries and Paddington, it’s another fine adaptationofachildren’s classic, bursting withcolour, imaginationandtenderness. The Secret Garden is filled withenvironmentalthemes aboutsustainability, wellness andthe worldin whichwe live, andis destinedto enchantyoung andold. James Mottram

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