Rooted in realism but with some elements of magic and fairytale, Alfonso Cuarón’s A Little Princess is a timeless masterpiece.
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Genre: Drama, Family, Fantasy, Coming of Age
Run Time: 97′
Rated: G
U.S. Release: May 19, 1995
U.K. Release: February 9, 1996
Where to Watch: On Digital & VOD
“Magic has to be believed; it’s the only way it’s real,” says the protagonist’s father at the beginning of A Little Princess. From the very first scene, which is born exclusively out of the main character’s imagination and love for telling stories, the film asks us to do exactly this: believe in its magic so much that we almost believe it to be real. Much of the actual plot of Alfonso Cuarón’s movie is rooted in realism, but its magical elements are what make the story move forward. They also make the entire narrative stand out a lot more.
Sara Crewe (Liesel Matthews) has lived all her life in India, where her father, Captain Richard Crewe (Liam Cunningham), is stationed for the British Army. When he is enlisted in the First World War, Sara moves from India to New York City to attend the all-girls boarding school that her late mother had once been to. Despite receiving special treatment due to her father’s wealth, Sara maintains her good nature and kind spirit, befriending everyone at the boarding school, including Becky (Vanessa Lee Chester), a young African-American servant girl. After strict headmistress Maria Minchin (Eleanor Bron) discovers the news about the death of Sara’s father, she forces the girl to become a servant for the school, now that she has nowhere to go and no living relatives.
A Little Princess’s realism is evident from the plot, but Sara’s imagination and her stories add an element of magic to the story from the very beginning of the movie. The film perfectly renders her childlike imagination with the technical elements of filmmaking, from camera movements to lighting choices, proving the director’s skill in this genre.
Both the use of colours and the music support this. The latter accompanies Sara’s adventures, both in the real world in New York City and in her imagination. The notes soar when Sara’s imagination takes over, or when some magical or unexplainable events happen in her life to improve her dire circumstances or give her strength during sad times. The colour palette and light in A Little Princess evoke whimsical and magical feelings. Warm tones dominate the first half of the film. But when the circumstances of Sara’s life dramatically change, the movie turns much bleaker, with the storm taking over the city and darker tones both visually and thematically prevailing .
During the film, Sara goes through a journey of self-growth. Through her pain and unfortunate circumstances, her true character is tested time and time again. Like in all good fairytales, she is also rewarded at the end for everything she has endured. In a surprising turn of events, the final twist of the film could easily rival the stories Sara tells her friends at the boarding school when we find out that Captain Crewe never actually died. This is very different from the original novel, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, where Sara’s father really died, but it fits very well with the fairytale-like elements A Little Princess evokes.
Overall, A Little Princess is a masterclass in magical realism, which also happens to be one of the genres Alfonso Cuarón excels in. Admittedly, the director does make some significant changes to the subject matter. With all the differences in settings (London becomes New York)and storyline (the ending is completely different and much happier) this version is more similar to the 1939 adaptation than the original book. But when a director manages to capture the general ideas and sentiment of the source material so wonderfully, does it even matter if some plot elements have been changed, even substantially? You will just have to watch the movie to find out.
A Little Princess (1995): Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
Sara Crewe’s life changes drastically when she learns that her father is dead and is forced to become a servant at the strict all-girls boarding school she used to attend.
Pros:
- The film perfectly encapsulates the sense of childlike wonder and imagination.
- The colour palette also creates a whimsical atmosphere that adds to the magical realism of the film.
- The music also elevates the magical elements of the film and moves the narrative forward.
Cons:
- This adaptation changes a lot of key plot elements of the original novel it is based on.
A Little Princess (1995) is now available to watch on digital and on demand.
Loud and Clear Reviews has an affiliate partnership with Apple, so we receive a share of the revenue from your purchase or streaming of the films when you click on some of the links on this page. This won’t affect how much you pay for them and helps us keep the site free for everyone.
