The Secret Garden
Living in India, Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly), a young, privileged girl, is left orphaned when her parents are killed in an earthquake. She is sent back to England where she goes to live on her Uncle Lord Archibald Craven's (John Lynch's) estate. It is a fairly isolated existence and she has to find things to keep herself occupied. She finds sickly young Colin Craven (Heydon Prowse), and a secret garden.
Despite a respectable budget of $18.0M, The Secret Garden became a box office success, earning $40.0M worldwide—a 122% return.
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award3 wins & 6 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Secret Garden (1993) demonstrates strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Agnieszka Holland's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Mary Lennox is a bitter, neglected child in colonial India, ordering servants about coldly. Her parents ignore her, establishing her isolated, loveless world before tragedy strikes.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Mary hears mysterious crying in the night echoing through the manor. Despite being told it's just the wind, she becomes curious. This mystery disrupts her passive acceptance of her gloomy new life.. At 10% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Mary discovers the key to the secret garden and finds the hidden door. She makes the active choice to enter the abandoned, overgrown garden - crossing into a new world of possibility and beginning her transformation., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Mary brings Colin to the secret garden for the first time. He stands up from his wheelchair - a false victory suggesting immediate healing. The stakes raise: if discovered, they'll lose the garden, and Colin's improvement seems miraculous but fragile., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Archibald Craven returns and finds the children in the garden. He's devastated, seeing it as a betrayal of his dead wife's memory. He orders the garden locked again. Colin collapses. The dream of healing and renewal appears destroyed - a death of hope., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 82% of the runtime. Mary realizes that healing the garden means nothing if Archibald can't heal from his grief. She and Colin decide they must help him open his heart, just as the garden opened theirs. Synthesis: combining their growth with compassion for others., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Secret Garden's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Secret Garden against these established plot points, we can identify how Agnieszka Holland utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Secret Garden within the drama genre.
Agnieszka Holland's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Agnieszka Holland films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Secret Garden represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Agnieszka Holland filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Agnieszka Holland analyses, see Copying Beethoven, Europa Europa and In Darkness.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Mary Lennox is a bitter, neglected child in colonial India, ordering servants about coldly. Her parents ignore her, establishing her isolated, loveless world before tragedy strikes.
Theme
Mrs. Medlock tells Mary about Misselthwaite Manor: "It's a grand place, but gloomy. Master Craven's a sad man since his wife died." Theme of grief, locked hearts, and potential for renewal is stated.
Worldbuilding
Mary's parents die in cholera outbreak. She's sent to England to live with her uncle Archibald Craven at Misselthwaite Manor. The manor is cold, restrictive, filled with locked doors and secrets. Mrs. Medlock enforces strict rules.
Disruption
Mary hears mysterious crying in the night echoing through the manor. Despite being told it's just the wind, she becomes curious. This mystery disrupts her passive acceptance of her gloomy new life.
Resistance
Mary explores the manor grounds. Martha the maid encourages her to go outside. Ben Weatherstaff, the gardener, reluctantly tolerates her. Mary learns about the locked garden where Mrs. Craven died. She debates whether to search for it or remain isolated.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Mary discovers the key to the secret garden and finds the hidden door. She makes the active choice to enter the abandoned, overgrown garden - crossing into a new world of possibility and beginning her transformation.
Mirror World
Mary meets Dickon, a local boy with a magical connection to nature and animals. He embodies the life force and openness Mary lacks. He agrees to help her restore the garden, becoming her thematic mirror and guide.
Premise
Mary and Dickon work to bring the secret garden back to life. Mary begins to soften and smile. She discovers her bedridden cousin Colin, who believes he'll die young. The garden becomes a symbol of renewal as Mary starts connecting with others.
Midpoint
Mary brings Colin to the secret garden for the first time. He stands up from his wheelchair - a false victory suggesting immediate healing. The stakes raise: if discovered, they'll lose the garden, and Colin's improvement seems miraculous but fragile.
Opposition
Colin grows stronger but increasingly demanding, like Mary once was. His father Archibald remains distant, locked in grief. Mrs. Medlock grows suspicious of the children's activities. Mary struggles to help Colin without reverting to her old selfishness.
Collapse
Archibald Craven returns and finds the children in the garden. He's devastated, seeing it as a betrayal of his dead wife's memory. He orders the garden locked again. Colin collapses. The dream of healing and renewal appears destroyed - a death of hope.
Crisis
Mary and Colin face despair. Mary contemplates giving up. Colin questions whether he can truly be well. The dark night of doubt - have they deluded themselves? Can locked hearts ever truly open?
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Mary realizes that healing the garden means nothing if Archibald can't heal from his grief. She and Colin decide they must help him open his heart, just as the garden opened theirs. Synthesis: combining their growth with compassion for others.
Synthesis
The children invite Archibald back to the garden. Colin walks to his father independently. Archibald confronts his pain and embraces his son. The garden blooms fully. The manor transforms from a place of death to life. All hearts unlock.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: Mary in the garden, but now radiant, laughing, surrounded by friends and family. The bitter, isolated child has become loving and connected. The dead garden - and dead hearts - have come back to life.