A new film adaptation of the book “The Secret Garden” – a British novel that has become a classic of children’s literature – has been released. The project was written by Jack Thorne, who co-wrote the Harry Potter play. Thanks to him, magical realism appeared in the film, but the big magic with the plot did not happen.

The novel “The Secret Garden” by writer Francis Eliza Burnett has been transferred to the screen many times already. It has been made into feature films, television series, and even an anime series (released as Anime Himitsu no Hanazono). As the trends of recent years show, sooner or later any classic will receive a modern interpretation with the expectation of another generation of viewers.

The creation of a new film was done by people who are somehow connected with the world of Harry Potter. The Secret Garden was produced by David Heyman (he acquired the film rights to the J.K. Rowling book series in the late 1990s and successfully directed the filming of eight films about the wizarding world). And the screenwriter was Jack Thorne, co-author of the play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” In addition, the film featured actress Julie Walters, who became the screen incarnation of Molly Weasley. It’s funny that in the “Secret Garden” she is almost unrecognizable – from a good-natured red-haired witch, the artist turns into a strict gray-haired housekeeper.

The film “Secret Garden” introduces us to a spoiled girl named Mary, whose family lives in India. Her parents die from a cholera epidemic, and the orphaned child is sent to live with her only relative in the UK. The girl’s uncle turns out to be the estranged Lord Craven (played by Colin Firth), who owns a giant manor with countless rooms, where the newcomer is strictly forbidden to enter. Toiling from boredom and loneliness, Mary wanders through the dreary neighborhood and finds a carefully hidden garden. As soon as she begins to explore it, the girl gradually changes and reveals the secrets of her family.

Screenwriter Jack Thorne made significant adjustments to the original story. He moved the time frame forward, so the action of the picture takes place in 1947, when England is recovering from the war. He also crossed out several minor characters and added a charming shaggy dog wandering around the neighborhood.

But most of all, Thorne made changes to the general meaning of the story, significantly softening the general essence of the novel. Apparently, the new “Secret Garden” is completely focused on family viewing, so the screenwriter removed from it the uncomfortable topic of the lack of parental love for their child, which was clear from the first pages of the book.

The most interesting transformation of the film occurred with the garden hidden from prying eyes – its visual presentation turned into magical realism. Each plant in the mystery garden is incredibly delicate, colorful and unnaturally large, while there is no obvious magic or, say, talking trees in the flora. The operator emphasizes an important connection with nature, creating the effect of being in the bush. When the main character rushes forward, the camera follows her, dodging the leaves falling down. Frames in which fields with flowers appear, through which the characters run, looking at the sun glare, look especially good. It turns out very beautiful.

Shots with details of the English estate in which the main characters live is another notable plus of the film. Gloomy rooms lined with antiques, monumental staircases and wallpaper with patterns that come to life before our eyes – all this is done just fine.

Annoyingly, the main storyline isn’t always as impressive as the visuals. The decision of the filmmakers to soften the plot (already a children’s book) turns the adaptation of The Secret Garden into an ordinary kindly naive story in which the essence of the transformation of the central character is lost. It seems that Jack Thorne is not the most successful writer of plays about magic, and now also adapted novels.

Nevertheless, the lead actress Dixie Egeriks conveys the character of a spoiled child well, over whose whims curiosity takes over. And the actors playing her young friends are chosen quite well. But Colin Firth and Julie Walters are very few in the frame, they are an attraction for a more adult audience, if she decides to get out to the movies with children.