Parents' Guide to

A Little Princess

By Common Sense Media, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Wonderful adaptation of classic book; some scary moments.

Movie G 1995 97 minutes
A Little Princess Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • A Little Princess Movie: Scene #1
  • A Little Princess Movie: Scene #2
  • A Little Princess Movie: Scene #3

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age 8+

Based on 18 parent reviews

AJP28
AJP28 Parent of 7-year-old
September 30, 2020
age 12+

harrowing scenes from the first world war trenches

I watched this with my kids ages 9 and 7 having seen that common sense media recommends for ages 7 and up. Having read the book as a child I thought I knew the story would be fine but the narrative here is very different and includes harrowing scenes from the first world war - dead bodies everywhere in the trenches, a badly wounded soldier who is left to die etc. I can't understand how kids as young as 7 are okay with seeing this. Mine were absolutely distraught and I really regret not reading the other reviews before showing it to them. To be honest it feels like the end of innocence that their eyes have been opened to the horrors of war at such a young age. Another new element, different from the book is that there is a child servant, very badly treated and not allowed to speak to the other children, presumably because she is black as well as a servant. The racism is treated with almost casual acceptance in the story, this being 1914, again very upsetting and needs careful parental talking through.
Krolewna
Krolewna Adult
May 8, 2020
age 14+

Wonderful story full of magic

I absolutely love this film. I watch it every Week,and i read over and over the book. The film does not disappoint at all,because it perfectly makes us feel every feeling and emotion Sara Crewe feels. It is a story that shows us how optimism and imagination can always help us through tough times and that de never, ever have to give in to mean feelings or actions,but to always stay kind and generous at heart instead. Sara Crewe is a wonderful role model for people of all ages, and regardless of the gender. The grumpy headmistress of the boarding school is the perfect copy of the book 's one. So are the cute and funny friends of Sara. The end is absolutely wonderful and undeniably well deserved by such a strong willed, intelligent, gentle character who never loses her hopefulness . Sure,there are fun moments in this film,such as when Mrs Minchin feels embarassed by Sara's fluent speaking French . There also are many tear jerker moments...when Sara finds out that nobody has any news of her father who could possibly be dead. I do absolutely not recommend this story- the book and even less the movie, with the visual scenes- to any child below 13. It is a book for teenagers and adults ...many scenes are emotionally tough for a child.
See all 18 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In A LITTLE PRINCESS, motherless Sara Crewe (Liesel Matthews) is brought to Miss Minchin's boarding school by her father, who's heading off to war. She is the brightest girl in the school, with exquisite manners, but her odd fancies and her father's lavish provisions for her make the other girls uncomfortable or jealous. Her only friend in the school is Ermengarde (Heather DeLoach), a pudgy girl who has trouble with her lessons and is very grateful for Sara's attentions. Sara also befriends Becky (Vanessa Lee Chester), a scullery maid. When Captain Crewe is thought dead and his assets seized, Miss Minchin goes from doting on her to giving her the servant's quarters in the attic next to Becky.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (18 ):
Kids say (31 ):

Based on the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett published in 1905, Alfonso Cuaron's adaptation has an appealing combination of magic, drama, boarding school bullies, and a resilient orphan. This probably made Cuaron a shoe-in for the job of directing the third Harry Potter movie a few years later.

Unlike Cedric in Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Little Princess's Sara Crewe can't be accused of being perfect, though she is not as deliciously unlikable as Mary in The Secret Garden. It takes her a long time to lose her temper and snap at Ermengarde, but she does, and she almost gives up hope. Although Sara is desperately hungry, she gives almost all her food to a beggar child who is even hungrier. Note the way that her compassion inspires others; the baker who watches her give the buns to the beggar child is so moved that she gives the child a home.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Sara's empathy and compassion for others in A Little Princess. Why are stories so important to her? How do they help her deal with her sadness? How do the stories she tells relate to what's going on in her life?

  • What challenges do you see in adapting a book like this into a movie?

  • What parts of life in the boarding school seem like they could be part of any other school at any other time, and what parts of life there seem like they were very much part of the early 20th century?

  • How does Sara demonstrate communication and gratitude in A Little Princess? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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