My Favourite Film Of All Time - 'The Secret Garden'

As a film student, the one question I always get asked without fail is 'What is your favourite film?', and I've always struggled with my answer. I've often said things like '127 hours' for its amazing ability to hold your attention despite staying in the location virtually all the way through, or 'Avatar' because of the special effects and even 'Withnail and I' for it's simplicity and comedy, but none of these would I say really are my favourite film. Lots of people say they don't have a favourite and I thought maybe I was one of them, but I thought harder... was there a film that I truly absolutely love? and then I remembered.

I wouldn't want to watch this film over and over again for fear that it would loose it's magic, but when I do watch it I always feel happy and uplifted. 'The Secret Garden' (1993, Agnieszka Holland) is my favourite film of all time. Based on the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, 'The Secret Garden' is about a young girl, Mary (Kate Maberly) whose parents are killed in an earthquake in India. Mary then gets sent to England to live with her uncle who has become somewhat of a recluse, barely ever at home he leaves his housemaid Mrs Medlock (Maggie Smith) in charge of the house, Mary and his very sick son Colin.  Forced to play outside, Mary discovers a secret garden, locked up after the death of her aunt. Secretly herself and her friend the farm boy Dickon ( Andrew Knott) tend to the garden so it is once again beautiful and full of life. Initially unaware of his existence, Mary and Colin (Heydon Prowse) become good friends and with the help of Dickon ( Andrew Knott) they introduce Colin to the outside and teach him to walk, resulting in his speedy recovery and a relationship with his father.

This is a film from my childhood and one that both my mum and sister love, which maybe is why I love to watch it too, but I think the real reason I love it is because I can very loosely relate to it. I have grown up playing outside in the countryside with my cousin and sister, the three of us racing around on bikes, building camps in the woods and fighting off imaginary enemies. The close relationship between Mary, Colin and Dickon and the enjoyment they get from the great outdoors very closely resembles that of me, my sister and my cousin,  although obviously the situations between my life and the film couldn't be more different!

The credit music makes me want to cry- but with happiness! the film sparks the excitement within me that I used to feel going off for the day into the fields and the woods and brings back so many happy memories! So I can confirm that if anyone ever asks me 'What is your favourite film?' I am most definitely going to say 'The Secret Garden', it has no fancy special effects, or incredibly complex story, but to me it is relatable, believable and feels special to me and I think that is what makes a film your favourite.