How Does Colin Craven Change Throughout The Novel

In A Secret Garden, the director Agnieszka Holland, uses different lighting, thematic montage, and close shots to show how the main character Colin Craven change from weak, bedridden, and depressed boy to a strong, active ,and optimistic one. Colin has been changed because of Mary, who is Colin’s cousin. Mary lives in Colin’s house after her parents passed away in India. She becomes Colin’s best friend and helps him to be active and healthy like a normal kid. Colin becomes a mentally strong person at the end of the movie, and the director uses different lighting to show Colin’s change. Before he meets Mary, Colin believes that he is the most pitiful kid in the world. His mother passed away and his father doesn’t like him. Colin believes

His father, Mr. Carven, lost his wife already, so he cannot suffer the pain of losing someone that he loves anymore; therefore, he decides to protect Colin well. However, his overprotection makes Colin spoiled, weak, and pessimistic. However, Colin knows that Mary has a painful past but she still has a positive attitude toward her life. Colin feels shameful that he is mentally weak compared to Mary. He wants to become a kid like Mary, who is strong enough overcome weakness and the painful memories. In consequence, he finally dares to protect the people he loves from Mrs. Medlock and overcomes the fear of wind and the outside world. Colin doesn’t allow Mary to open windows before, because he thinks that spores will get into his room and “kill” him. Therefore, the lighting in Colin’s room is low key lighting at this time. The low key lighting creates a negative and depressed atmosphere, and it also makes Colin’s face look pale and unhealthy. The lighting reflects Colin is weak mentally and physically during this period. He lacks a sense of security. Yet, Mary opens the windows in Colin’s room, and the

The director uses a lot of close shots to present Colin’s emotion in order to show Colin’s change. In the past, Colin is depressed. Everyone keeps the distance from Colin and spoil him, so Colin doesn’t have any close friends. Therefore, in most close shots, Colin is sad or arrogant from everything around him. He is always with a poker face. However, Mary comes into his life and becomes Colin’s first friend stay with him all the time. Colin feels that he is loved and supported by Mary, and he never have this feeling before. From then on, Colin is more willing to be in touch with the outside world and people. After Mary becomes Colin’s friend, there are a lot of close shots that show Colin’s happiness with friends. He always smiles and chortles. Colin finally can live like a normal kid instead of confining himself to the dark room. The close up shots show Colin’s emotions well. People can know the change of Colin by comparing and observing the close up shots in the beginning of the movie and at the end of the movie. At the end of the movie, Colin is more outgoing and