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A Little Princess
1995 97 min United States of America G 0+
★8.3
Drama, Family, Fantasy
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
🎭 Based on
«A Little Princess»
byFrances Hodgson Burnett
Trailers
Description
When her father enlists to fight for the British in WWI, young Sara Crewe goes to New York to attend the same boarding school her late mother attended. She soon clashes with the severe headmistress, Miss Minchin, who attempts to stifle Sara's creativity and sense of self-worth.
Budget:
$17M
US Gross:
$10.02M
Worldwide:
$10M
Starring
Liesel Matthews
Actor
Eleanor Bron
Actor
Liam Cunningham
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1996
— Best Cinematography
Academy Awards 1996
— Best Production Design
Key opinion
Alfonso Cuarón’s 1995 adaptation of A Little Princess is widely regarded as a visually enchanting and emotionally resonant family film that successfully captures the spirit of the original novel. While some viewers feel the Americanization and deviations from the source material undermine the story, most praise its magical atmosphere and the compelling performance of its lead.
| Acting | Liesel Matthews delivers a captivating performance as the porcelain-like yet resilient Sara Crewe. | |
| Cinematography | The film utilizes rich cinematography and score to construct an immersive, fairy-tale-like atmosphere. | |
| Direction | Alfonso Cuarón’s direction effectively balances harsh, grounded reality with moments of whimsical magic, foreshadowing his later work. | |
| Emotion | The film succeeds as an uplifting, cross-generational experience that resonates with both children and adults. | |
| Adaptation | Adapting the story to New York and altering key narrative beats leaves some book purists frustrated by the tonal shifts and perceived sentimentality. | |
| Ending | The dramatic conclusion and pacing are viewed by some as overly drawn-out or contrived, while others find them appropriately magical. |