A Little Princess was one of my most treasured films from my childhood, but you wouldn't know it from looking at the kid version of me, because I barely ever made it to the end without some serious tears. It's the story of a bright, kind young girl named Sara Crewe, who is forced into indentured servitude after her father and only living relative is reported as killed in action during World War I. Her strength and courage are powerful to watch, especially as a small child with little to no experience with the emotions that are being presented in the film. There are two parts that never fail to make me cry, and if you've ever seen the movie I'm sure you know what they are. One involves the first night that Sara spends in the filthy, dinghy old attic, when she draws a circle in chalk on the floor to protect her while she sobs helplessly for her papa. I know... right? The second is at the end of the film, with all the crying and the rain and the almost falling to a painful death and the "Papa, please! You have to know me!" You know what, it's probably better if we don't even talk about it.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
