Back to the Secret Garden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Back to the Secret Garden |
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|---|---|
| Written by | Frances Hodgson Burnett (Characters from book) Joe Wiesenfeld (story) |
| Directed by | Michael Tuchner |
| Starring | Camilla Belle Joan Plowright Aled Roberts Cherie Lunghi Leigh Lawson |
| Theme music composer | Allyn Ferguson |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Nick Gillott |
| Cinematography | Ian Wilson |
| Editor(s) | Keith Palmer |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Distributor | Hallmark Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original release | 2 September 2001 |
Back to the Secret Garden is a magical fantasy film from 2001. It was made for TV and continues the story of The Secret Garden from 1987. This movie brings back some characters from the first story. Lady Mary and Sir Colin Craven are now grown up and married. Martha Sowerby is also an adult and runs Misselthwaite Manor.
Misselthwaite Manor has become an orphanage. It helps children whose parents were lost during World War II. Lady Mary, Sir Colin, and Martha were children in the original story. Now, about 40 years later, they are middle-aged adults.
Contents
Plot
A New Home for Lizzie
The story begins in 1946. Lady Mary Craven (Cherie Lunghi) visits an American orphanage. She tells the children about a special exchange program. One child can travel to England and stay at Misselthwaite Manor. Lady Mary meets a young girl named Lizzie Buscana (Camilla Belle). Lizzie is in the garden, caring for her mother's rose bush.
Lady Mary tells Lizzie about the exchange program. She also mentions the famous secret garden. Lizzie agrees to go to England. She wants to see the secret garden for herself.
Life at Misselthwaite Manor
Lizzie arrives in England and is met by Martha Sowerby (Joan Plowright). Martha is in charge of Misselthwaite Manor. Lizzie quickly learns a strict rule. The children can only visit the garden on Sundays. They must be very well-behaved and not touch anything.
Lizzie soon makes friends with Geraldine, Steven, and Robert (Aled Roberts). One night, after everyone is supposed to be asleep, Lizzie sneaks into the garden. She realizes the garden needs her help. It looks sad and neglected.
The Missing Key
When Lizzie returns to the manor, she sees a fire in Robert's room. Robert had fallen asleep with a candle still burning. Lizzie quickly alerts everyone and helps put out the fire. Martha asks Lizzie why she was still awake. Lizzie admits she visited the garden after curfew. Martha then discovers that Lizzie stole the key to the garden.
Martha learns that Geraldine (Florence Hoath) told Lizzie about the key. Geraldine believes the key should belong to Lizzie. She thinks the garden has chosen Lizzie, not Martha. Martha had tried to find the garden's door but couldn't.
Secrets and Forgiveness
Geraldine becomes jealous of Lizzie. She persuades Steven (Justin Girdler) to steal the key. Steven does this because Lizzie didn't return his feelings. When Lizzie realizes the key is gone, she thinks Robert took it. She knows Robert doesn't like her much.
Lizzie goes with Robert to find the key. They discover that Steven took it. He threw the key into the pond. Lizzie confronts Geraldine, who first denies it. But Geraldine confesses when Martha punishes her for lying.
Lizzie is told that maybe she doesn't need the key. The garden might have a magic door. Martha goes to meet Lady Mary, who has returned to Misselthwaite. Martha tells Lady Mary that the garden looks dead. But Lizzie realizes the garden is just missing children's love and fun. With Robert's help, she gathers the orphans. They all run to the garden, and it quickly comes back to life!
The Garden's Future
Lady Mary and Sir Colin (Leigh Lawson) arrive with Martha. They are amazed because the garden looks beautiful, not dead. Lizzie tells Lady Mary that the garden needed love. She says it should not be closed off.
Lady Mary tells Lizzie that the garden now belongs to her. She explains that "a girl from across the sea, many years ago" brought the garden to life. Now, another girl from across the sea has done it again. Lady Mary says Lizzie can do whatever she wishes with the garden. Lizzie happily announces that the garden will stay open. All the children can now enjoy its magic!
Cast
- Camilla Belle as Lizzie Buscana
- Aled Roberts as Robert
- Florence Hoath as Geraldine
- Justin Girdler as Steven
- Joan Plowright as Martha Sowerby
- George Baker as Will Weatherstaff
- Cherie Lunghi as Lady Mary Craven
- Leigh Lawson as Sir Colin Craven
- David Warner as Dr. Snodgrass
- Danielle McCormack as Penelope
- Liza Ross as Sister Mary
- Lisa Martin as Doris
- Sheila Steafel as Miss Chillblaine
