Little Secrets Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A teenage violinist runs a backyard secret-keeping business for 50 cents, accidentally gets tangled in way bigger secrets (and a drunk driving incident?), falls off a roof, breaks her violin, and still somehow nails her orchestra audition thanks to a handy camcorder and a brother’s quick thinking.

🍿 Little Secrets: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Meet Emily, the Secret Keeper

Emily Lindstrom is a 14-year-old aspiring concert violinist, spending her summer practicing intensely while her friends are away at camp. She dreams of joining the Youth Symphony. To earn money and occupy her time, Emily sets up a unique neighborhood business: for 50 cents, she will listen to and keep anyone’s secret. She carefully stores these secrets, often involving broken items or minor childhood misdeeds, in a locked chest.

New Neighbors and Growing Friendships

A new family, the Lenoxes, moves in next door, introducing Emily to brothers Philip and David. Philip, aged 12, quickly becomes Emily’s friend and confesses his own small secret about a broken chess piece. Emily develops a crush on the older brother, David. As she navigates her violin practice, family dynamics (her mother is pregnant), and the increasing weight of the secrets she holds for others, her life becomes more complicated, particularly when David’s own troubles emerge.

The Weight of Secrets

The accumulation of secrets, both those entrusted to her and her own unspoken feelings, begins to take a toll on Emily. This stress starts to affect her violin playing, prompting her teacher, Pauline, to express concern. The tension builds towards Emily’s important symphony audition, while interactions with Philip and David lead to misunderstandings and confrontations, highlighting the difficulties of keeping secrets.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Emily Lindstrom (Evan Rachel Wood): A fourteen-year-old aspiring violinist who runs a neighborhood business keeping secrets but struggles under the weight of her own and others’.
• Philip Lenox (Michael Angarano): The new neighbor and Emily’s friend who becomes involved in her life and secrets, developing feelings for her.
• David Lenox (David Gallagher): Philip’s older brother who becomes a romantic interest for Emily despite his own hidden troubles.
• Pauline (Vivica A. Fox): Emily’s violin teacher and mentor who helps her navigate both her musical aspirations and personal struggles.
• Caroline Lindstrom (Jan Broberg): Emily’s pregnant adoptive mother whose focus on the new baby inadvertently makes Emily feel less important.
• Eddie Lindstrom (Rick Macy): Emily’s supportive adoptive father who encourages her violin playing and helps her understand her past.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Isabelle: “Life is complicated when you look like Claudia Schiffer.” – Said by the young girl Isabelle, giving Emily a humorous, self-aware reason for her complicated life.
• Philip: “It’s called inflation. And I give free lemonade.” – Philip’s humorous explanation for charging more than Emily (75 cents vs. 50 cents) when he briefly takes over the ‘Secret Keeper’ business.
• Pauline: “I was released from the orchestra when they brought in all the new principal players from Julliard.” – Pauline reveals her own ‘little secret’ to Emily, explaining that even seemingly successful people have disappointments.
• Emily Lindstrom: “Wwhap The O Wit Wwa.” – Emily reveals the meaning of her and her friends’ secret code phrase, which is ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $2,500,000
• Domestic Gross: $405,792
• Worldwide Gross: $750,582

💥 Little Secrets Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, confession: I was skeptical when I first put this on, thinking it would be just another cheesy kids’ movie. But honestly? I was totally charmed! Evan Rachel Wood and Michael Angarano are just fantastic together, they have this easy chemistry that feels really genuine. I loved watching Emily juggle all those little secrets and her own big dreams. It made me think about the silly things we worry about when we’re younger, and how big secrets can feel like the end of the world. The part where she falls off the roof was actually pretty intense, and seeing everyone rally around her afterwards was really sweet. And yeah, the whole violin faking thing is noticeable if you play, but it didn’t ruin the experience for me because the music itself was so lovely. It’s just a really warm, heartfelt movie about growing up, friendship, and finding your voice – even if you have to spill some secrets to get there. Totally recommend it for a cozy family movie night.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Families looking for a clean, uplifting movie”
  • “Pre-teens and early teenagers”
  • “Viewers who enjoy coming-of-age stories”
  • “Fans of classical music or films about aspiring artists”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)”
  • “Contains thematic elements around secrets and mild adolescent issues (e.g., minor theft, underage drinking is mentioned)”
  • “No strong language, violence, or sexual content”

Professional Reviews

• User Review Summary: “This family-friendly drama offers a sweet, charming experience centered on relatable teenage struggles. While the plot has predictable moments and some questionable choices (like the violin faking), the strong performances from the young lead actors, particularly Evan Rachel Wood and Michael Angarano, carry the film. It’s a refreshing break from overly cynical teen fare.
• User Review Summary: “‘Little Secrets’ is a genuinely enjoyable coming-of-age story with a unique premise. The concept of a ‘secret keeper’ highlights themes of trust and responsibility in an accessible way for younger audiences. Despite minor flaws like the unconvincing violin sequences, the film delivers an uplifting message and provides clean, wholesome entertainment for the whole family.
• User Review Summary: “Praised for its authentic portrayal of early teen life and subtle moral lessons, the movie stands out for its lack of typical Hollywood cynicism. The ensemble cast of child actors is commendable, capturing genuine moments. Although some narrative threads feel underdeveloped, the film’s warm tone, engaging characters, and positive themes make it a recommended watch for families.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers praised the authentic and relatable portrayal of early teenage life and its challenges.: The performances by the young lead actors, especially Evan Rachel Wood and Michael Angarano, were widely appreciated for their natural and believable portrayals.

The film’s clean, family-friendly nature and positive messages were highlighted as major strengths.: Audiences enjoyed the unique ‘secret keeper’ premise and the sweet, charming tone of the story.

The supporting cast of younger children and their quirky secrets added significant comedic and heartwarming moments.: Despite some debate over the final romantic pairing and the violin faking, most viewers found the overall story engaging and emotionally resonant.

Overall Consensus: A sweet, charming, and wholesome family film particularly appealing to pre-teens, lauded for its relatable characters and positive themes, despite some minor plot points and technical quibbles.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Evan Rachel Wood was sent a violin before filming began and had lessons, but primarily learned the correct finger and bowing movements by studying a video of a professional violinist playing her character’s pieces.”
• “According to the director’s DVD commentary, the original plan to have Emily end up with the younger neighbor Philip was changed to the older brother David because the director felt a relationship between a 14-year-old and a 12-year-old would be implausible, despite some reviewers disagreeing.”
• “A scene explaining how Emily and Philip snuck into the concert hall was filmed but ultimately deleted from the final cut.”

🖥️ How to Watch Little Secrets?

Looking to watch ‘Little Secrets’ (2002)? This family drama is available for digital purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. It was initially released on home video, so check other major digital storefronts for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Little Secrets, you might like these similar films:

• Samantha (1992): Features a similar premise of a young woman discovering secrets about her past and dealing with life changes, noted by reviewers as potentially being the basis or inspiration for ‘Little Secrets’.
• The Princess Diaries (2001): A popular family-friendly film from the same era focusing on a young teenage girl’s journey of self-discovery, dealing with unexpected life changes, and finding her place.
• Bridge to Terabithia (2007): Explores the deep friendship between two imaginative children and deals with themes of growing up, confronting harsh realities, and finding strength in connection, similar to Emily and Philip’s bond.
• Enola Holmes (2020): Features a resourceful young female protagonist who uses her cleverness to uncover secrets and navigate a complex world, appealing to fans who enjoyed Emily’s unique ‘secret keeper’ role and problem-solving.
• The Sandlot (1993): A nostalgic cult classic focused on childhood friendships, summer adventures, and navigating the ups and downs of growing up in a close-knit neighborhood, resonating with the suburban setting and ensemble kid cast of ‘Little Secrets’.

🛒 Little Secrets Related Products

• Little Secrets DVD or Digital Stream: Own or rent the full movie to rewatch Emily’s journey, her secret-keeping adventures, and her pursuit of musical dreams.
• Beginner Violin Kit: Inspired by Emily’s passion for music, this kit includes a student violin, bow, case, and rosin, perfect for aspiring young musicians.
• Personal Journal with Lock: A secure journal or diary perfect for keeping your own ‘little secrets,’ just like Emily’s secret box. Encourages writing and self-reflection.
• Classical Violin Music Compilation CD/Digital: A collection of popular classical violin pieces, potentially including works by composers like Mendelssohn or Brahms, similar to the music featured in the film.

🎧 Soundtrack

Little Secrets features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Three Tools” – performed by Sam Cardon and Kurt Bestor
• “Mendelssohn Violin Concerto (Likely piece practiced by Emily)” – performed by Felix Mendelssohn
• “Brahms Violin Concerto (Likely piece practiced by Emily)” – performed by Johannes Brahms

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

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