Shôkôjo Seira

Fine adaption of A little Princess with an excellent cast, and a wonderful double act between Kanako Higuchi (who ìs brilliant as the hateful school president), and Yuki Saito. I still don't get why the president treated Seira so badly though. Obviously she resented her mother, but I don't get why. Well, no I think I get, why, but using it as a justification for the way she treated Seira seemed rather weak.

Interesting Japanese adaption of A "Little Princess" with my favorite Japanese actress, Shida Mirai.

HOWEVER, the basic premise that the story leans on, the fact that in Victorian/Edwardian England (and elsewhere) children that were very poor, or orphans had to fend for themselves, many living on the streets.

This is important in order to explain why Sarah/Seira is bound as an indentured servant, and why the children living on the streets that she gives one of her buns to are in real need of a handout. However, the real problem in thus adaption is the updating to modern times.

There is no way today in Japan or in England or the US that a child would be treated this way (at least legally) Protective services would at least provide food and shelter to any orphaned child, so this fact is glossed over in the Japanese version, and makes it not as believable.

That said, if you can overlook some of the plot holes, it is a large production drama with great acting.

The only version of "A Little Princess" that beats it is the BBC 1986 3 part TV drama staring Amelia Shankley (Alice in "DREAMCHILD" 1985) and is the definitive version.