This 97%-Rated Children's Fantasy Is the Reason Alfonso Cuarón Got the Call for 'Harry Potter'

Today, Alfonso Cuarón is best known for Gravity, Children of Men, and Roma – serious and technically impeccable movies.

However, one of his films is often overlooked, even though it largely defined his future career. Long before directing Prisoner of Azkaban, Cuarón directed A Little Princess, an adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel.

What Is 'A Little Princess' About?

Sara lives in India with her loving father. When war breaks out, her father is called up for service and Sara is sent to a strict boarding school in New York.

The headmistress of the school, Miss Minchin, dislikes the cheerful and imaginative girl because she excites the other students with her stories. Sara perseveres, knowing she will always be her father's beloved little princess.

One day, everything collapses when news arrives that her father has died at the front and his fortune has been confiscated. From a privileged student, Sara is transformed into a servant and suffers humiliation at Miss Minchin's hands.

'A Little Princess' Is the Perfect Movie About the Power of Imagination and Staying True to Yourself

Even when she loses everything, Sara doesn't break down – she continues to tell stories, care for her children, and believe in goodness. Her imagination is not an escape from reality but a way to transform it.

A Little Princess is filled with magic, but the magic here isn't sorcery, it's the human ability to see beauty where others see only dirt.

Alfonso Cuarón captures India and New York with equal affection – his camera sometimes freezes and sometimes dances, creating the feeling that a fairy tale is about to become reality.

'A Little Princess' Set the Style for the Future 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' Movie

When the producers were looking for a director for the third Harry Potter movie, they turned to A Little Princess.

This adaptation already displays the signature style that would later emerge in The Prisoner of Azkaban: a love of detail and an ability to make a fairy tale seem adult while maintaining its childlike innocence.

Cuarón has a knack for showing the world through a child's eyes without resorting to baby talk. He believes in his characters, and this belief is conveyed to the audience. Actress Liesel Matthews, who plays Sara, is a true revelation.

A Little Princess is a rare case in which a film adaptation is as good as the book and, in some ways, surpasses it.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'A Little Princess'?

• A Little Princess has 97% from critics and 88% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.6/10.

• On Letterboxd, A Little Princess scored 3.8/5.0.

Where to Watch 'A Little Princess'?

A Little Princess is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.