The Enchanted Grove (1980): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1980, The Enchanted Grove is a fantasy, adventure and family film directed by Gheorghe Naghi, running about 75 minutes. “A little girl and her dog in a enchanted journey” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Lizuca is only six years old, not much older than her pet dachshund Patrocle, when her mother dies and she is left to live with her grandparents on their farm. Before long, Lizuca's father comes to take her away to live with him and his new bride, a vile woman who considers children the bane of all existence. Lizuca and the dachshund escape the wicked stepmother and spend the night in a hollow tree, a tree that changes into an enchanted land where Lizuca (like Alice through the Looking Glass) discovers a world of characters in the form of bees, frogs, the four seasons, Snow White, her dwarves, and other fairy tale creatures. This magic place is threatened by the evil stepmother's plan to sell the grove that protects the secret land to developers -- a decision that puts the woman on trial before this perfidy can be realized.

Who’s in it. The Enchanted Grove stars Diana Muscă as Lizuca, Ernest Maftei as Grandfather, Elena Drăgoi as Grandmother and Florina Cercel as Stepmother, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.6/10, The Enchanted Grove has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Enchanted Grove page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Enchanted Grove tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.