The Story of Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa Tagal
The story of Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa Tagal follows the same plot as the original novel by Burnett, with some changes to suit the Filipino context and culture. Sarah Crewe is a young girl who was born in India to a wealthy British father, Captain Ralph Crewe. She is sent to a boarding school in England, where she is treated like a princess by the headmistress, Miss Minchin, and befriends most of the students, especially the scullery maid, Becky.
Sarah's life changes dramatically when she receives news that her father has died in a mining accident and that he has left her penniless. Miss Minchin, who was only interested in Sarah's money, turns her into a servant and locks her away in the attic. She also spreads rumors that Sarah has disappeared and forbids anyone from seeing her. Sarah endures the hardships and cruelty of her new situation with courage and kindness, relying on her imagination and her doll Emily for comfort.
Meanwhile, next door to the school lives Mr. Anthony Crisford, a friend of Sarah's father who has been looking for her for a long time. He is also suffering from grief and guilt over his friend's death and his own failure to find his daughter. He is accompanied by his Indian servant, Ram Dass, who notices Sarah's plight and secretly brings her food and gifts. One day, Mr. Crisford finally discovers that Sarah is his long-lost friend's daughter and decides to adopt her and make her his heir. He also exposes Miss Minchin's lies and cruelty and reunites Sarah with Becky and her other friends.
The film ends with a happy scene where Sarah forgives Miss Minchin and Lavinia Herbert, the spoiled and jealous student who tormented her. She also receives a surprise visit from her father, who turns out to be alive after all. He explains that he was rescued by Mr. Crisford's men and that he had lost his memory for a while. He thanks Mr. Crisford for taking care of his daughter and invites him to join their family.
The Characters of Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa Tagal
One of the reasons why Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa Tagal is so beloved by many Filipinos is because of its memorable and relatable characters. The film features a talented cast of actors who brought the characters to life with their performances. Here are some of the main characters of the film and their roles:
Sarah Crewe / Princess Sarah (Camille Prats) - The protagonist of the film, Sarah is a kind, intelligent, and imaginative girl who loves her father dearly. She is sent to a boarding school in England, where she faces many challenges and hardships after losing her father and her fortune. She never loses hope and faith, and always tries to help others in need. She is also fond of telling stories and playing with her doll Emily.
Becky (Angelica Panganiban) - Sarah's best friend and loyal companion, Becky is a scullery maid who works at the school. She is often mistreated by Miss Minchin and Lavinia, but she finds comfort and happiness in Sarah's friendship. She admires Sarah's courage and generosity, and often joins her in her adventures.
Miss Minchin (Jean Garcia) - The antagonist of the film, Miss Minchin is the headmistress of the school and a greedy and cruel woman. She initially treats Sarah well because of her money, but when she learns that Sarah is penniless, she turns her into a servant and makes her life miserable. She also lies to everyone that Sarah has disappeared and tries to prevent her from being found by Mr. Crisford.
Lavinia Herbert (Angelica Pedersen) - The secondary antagonist of the film, Lavinia is a rich and spoiled student who is jealous of Sarah's popularity and talents. She often bullies and mocks Sarah and Becky, and tries to sabotage their happiness. She is also the leader of a group of mean girls who follow her every whim.
Captain Ralph Crewe (Mat Ranillo III) - Sarah's father and a wealthy British officer who loves his daughter more than anything. He sends Sarah to a boarding school in England while he goes to India to join a mining expedition. He is presumed dead after a mining accident, but he survives and loses his memory for a while. He eventually recovers his memory and reunites with his daughter.
Mr. Anthony Crisford (Romeo Rivera) - A friend of Captain Crewe and a rich businessman who is looking for Sarah. He feels guilty for his friend's death and his own failure to find his daughter. He lives next door to the school with his Indian servant Ram Dass, who helps Sarah secretly. He finally discovers that Sarah is his friend's daughter and adopts her as his own.
Ram Dass (Romy Romulo) - Mr. Crisford's Indian servant who notices Sarah's plight and secretly brings her food and gifts. He also helps Mr. Crisford find Sarah by climbing into the attic where she lives.
Miss Amelia (Rio Locsin) - Miss Minchin's younger sister and assistant, who is kinder and gentler than her sister. She often feels sorry for Sarah and Becky, but she is too afraid to stand up to Miss Minchin. She eventually leaves her sister and joins Mr. Crisford's household.
Señor Francisco (Tony Carreón) - A Spanish teacher at the school who teaches Sarah how to speak Spanish. He is impressed by Sarah's intelligence and fluency in different languages.
Gertrude (Paula Peralejo) - One of Sarah's friends at the school who is loyal and supportive of her. She also stands up to Lavinia when she insults Sarah.
Ermengarde (Kathleen Go Quieng) - Another one of Sarah's friends at the school who is shy and timid. She likes reading books and listening to Sarah's stories.
Lottie (Ani Pearl Alonzo) - The youngest student at the school who is spoiled and temperamental. She often cries and throws tantrums, but she becomes fond of Sarah who treats her like a little sister.
Jessie (Sara Polverini) - One of Lavinia's followers who joins her in bullying Sarah and Becky.
These are some of the main characters of Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa Tagal, who make the film an enjoyable and heartwarming experience for viewers of all ages.
The Themes of Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa Tagal
Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa Tagal is not only a film that entertains, but also a film that teaches valuable lessons and insights. The film explores various themes that resonate with the viewers, such as:
Imagination and storytelling - Sarah uses her imagination and storytelling skills to cope with her difficulties and to bring joy to others. She creates fantastical stories based on her experiences and knowledge, and shares them with her friends and even her enemies. She also imagines that she is a princess who can overcome any obstacle and who can help those in need.
Friendship and loyalty - Sarah values friendship and loyalty above all else. She is kind and generous to everyone she meets, regardless of their status or background. She is especially close to Becky, who supports her through thick and thin. She also remains faithful to her father, even when she thinks he is dead. She never forgets her friends, even when she becomes rich again.
Hope and faith - Sarah never loses hope and faith, even in the darkest times. She believes that there is always something good in every situation, and that everything will work out for the best. She trusts that her father loves her and will come back for her. She also believes that there is a higher power that watches over her and guides her.
Kindness and forgiveness - Sarah shows kindness and forgiveness to everyone, even to those who hurt her. She does not hold grudges or seek revenge, but rather tries to understand and empathize with others. She helps those who are less fortunate than her, such as Becky and the other servants. She also forgives Miss Minchin and Lavinia for their cruelty, and offers them friendship instead.
Class and culture - The film also touches on the issues of class and culture in the colonial era. Sarah experiences both the privileges and the prejudices of being a British girl in India and England. She is admired for her wealth and education, but also discriminated for her foreignness and compassion. She also learns about different cultures and languages, such as Indian, Spanish, and Filipino.
These are some of the themes of Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa Tagal, which make the film a meaningful and inspiring experience for viewers of all ages.
Conclusion
Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa Tagal is a film that has captured the hearts of many Filipinos for over two decades. The film is a faithful and creative adaptation of the classic novel A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, which tells the story of Sarah Crewe, a young girl who faces many challenges and hardships after losing her father and her fortune. The film showcases the themes of imagination and storytelling, friendship and loyalty, hope and faith, kindness and forgiveness, and class and culture. The film also features a talented cast of actors who deliver memorable and relatable performances, especially Camille Prats as Sarah Crewe. The film was a commercial and critical success, winning several awards and becoming one of the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time. The film also became a cultural phenomenon, influencing generations of Filipino viewers and inspiring parodies, memes, and references in popular culture. Sarah Ang Munting Prinsesa Tagal is a film that celebrates the Filipino spirit of resilience, hope, and kindness, and a film that will always be cherished by many Filipinos.
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