Princess Elisabeth, the beautiful only child of a widowed queen is sent off to marry the prince Leopold to whom she is betrothed. Before she leaves, her mother presents her with a small token. This token provides her with magical protection. However, the maidservant Magdalena, who accompanies the princess treats her very brutishly, and when circumstances cause the princess to lose her token, the maid seizes the opportunity to force the princess into trading places. She makes the princess switch clothes with her.
What child doesn’t dream of finding some secret door to the past! For Stella, a sassy 10-year-old, this dream comes true when she finds a magic wardrobe that transports her back to the early 20th century. There she must find a precious stone, the “Star of the Orient”, and ward off criminals who also want the treasure. Both haunting in its dream-like atmosphere and rousing through its spirited young protagonists, the film sweeps youngsters into a magical story of friendship and discovery.
