Childhood Movies that Made Me a Cinephile

Time and time again we hear of famous directors, actors, screenwriters, and critics, who discuss how they fell in love with film at a young age, how certain films inspired them, and gave them direction and purpose in their lives. I have many memories of my experiences with movies as a child, and today I would like to share just three of the films that had a particularly strong impact upon me with you. They are not only movies that I was fond of, but films that taught me how to appreciate the language of cinema and the artistic process behind filmmaking. My interest in film history and criticism undoubtedly stems from my early experiences with these wonderful movies.

1.    The Secret Garden (1993, dir. Agnieszka Holland)

In this mesmerizing adaptation of the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel, orphan Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) is sent to live with her mysterious and oft-absent uncle (John Lynch). Mary soon discovers her late aunt’s deserted garden and works with her invalid cousin, Colin (Heydon Prowse), and a new-found, animal loving friend, Dickon (Andrew Knott), to restore it to its original beauty. Every time I see this film, it surprises me how much Holland trusts her audience to appreciate the atmosphere she has created. From the slow panning shots, as Mary explores the ghostly mansion she newly inhabits, to the scenes in the garden focused on the movement and growth of flowers and animals, Holland constantly illustrates the beauty of space and time in this film. As a child, the movie stood at as an unusually contemplative and quiet children’s film, which gave me an appreciation of how those elements could make just as much, if not more, meaning than a bunch of quick cuts and an overly-abundant plot.

2.    The Lion King (1994, dir. Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers)

In this modern Disney classic (no, not the newly released ‘live action’ remake by Jon Favreau) young lion Simba (voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas) witnesses the death of his father, king Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Believing the death to be his own fault, Simba flees his pride, and, as he grows, he (voiced as an adult by Matthew Broderick) learns that he must confront his past to save his friends and family. I can still remember seeing this film for the first time as a two-year-old. Watching the sweeping opening sequence,  “The Circle of Life,” for the first time was a truly mind-blowing experience. I had never seen anything so beautiful and grand. Over the next decade, the film became cemented in my mind, my film obsession, as it was the first movie that I ever ‘studied.’ I researched the production information, meticulously rewinding and rewatching scenes, and specific moments, when I learned something new or interesting about them. The process of feeding into my obsession not only introduced me to all of the work that goes into creating an animated film, but it also was a gateway into my interest in film studies in general.

3.    Mary Poppins (1964, dir. Robert Stevenson)     

Another Disney classic. Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) is a magical nanny who, through a series of fantastic adventures, helps two children (Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber) connect with their preoccupied and no-nonsense father (David Thomlinson). Unlike The Lion King, I can’t exactly recall the first time I saw this film. It has always been a part of my life, but my appreciation for the movie is ever-evolving: as a young child I appreciated viewing the film as merely a wonderful experience (who knows if I even understood it was a movie at the time), then as I grew older, I began loving it for its music, acting, and choreography. Much later, after studying the film's production history, background information, its special effects, and camerawork, I finally, as an adult, realized just how much dry wit the screenplay has. There are so many elements of Mary Poppins that have expanded my mind and contributed to my understanding of film. I look forward to whatever else it is sure to teach me in the years to come.

What were your favorite childhood films? What films made a lasting impression on you at a young age? Let me know in the comments below!

©Copyright 2019 Bailey Lizotte