Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” has come to life as a newly released film and personally, it did not disappoint. The famous all-American story tells the lives of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth March. The adaptation focuses more solely on Jo March as she serves as a rebellious feminist, similar to how Alcott saw herself.
The whole cast was brilliant in their depictions of their characters. Laura Dern’s portrayal of the giving but loving mother was so clear, Eliza Scanlen as Beth as her sickness worsened was heartbreaking, and Florence Pugh’s Amy was perfectly unlikable. I was especially excited to see Emma Watson as Meg and, of course, she killed it.
(Photo courtesy of Sony / Columbia)
Not to mention, I have been a fan of stars Saiorse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet since “Lady Bird,” as well as director Greta Gerwig who brilliantly brought these two back for more. The chemistry between them is unmatchable. Ronan even joked about turning the tables in this film, having Jo break Laurie’s heart after having Kyle broke Christine’s heart in “Lady Bird.” I could not keep my eyes away from the screen as I watched the scene between the two, as Laurie desperately reaffirmed his love to Jo. His performance was so convincing to watch, I think the whole theatre swooned.
The romance between the two was so compelling that I was rooting for Jo to marry Laurie by the end, especially after her leaving the letter for him. However, the ending remained admirably unsatisfying, as Alcott originally intended. Ronan’s performance helped the ending feel less lackluster as her pleads to be free from the constraints of marriage were so impactful through the screen.
(Photo courtesy of Sony / Columbia)
The film itself was beautifully structured, going back and forth through time. It paralleled the girls’ growing adolescence and young adulthoods, which may have been confusing to follow if it wasn’t so well-directed. I felt a deep appreciation for the movie as I watched, but this was strengthened after seeing a Vanity Fair “Break Down a Scene” interview with Gerwig, Ronan, Chalamet, and Dern. The way the director and actors describe their respective amounts of work in order to make the scene so fluid was so interesting to see.
Needless to say, the movie has been a wide success. Following its Christmas Day release, both the cast members and film have been nominated for numerous awards, including 2 Golden Globes. I fell in love with the adaptation as I watched and it continuously exceeded expectations. I hope to see more Gerwig films in the future to help inspire many younger girls to fulfill their dreams of being directors and filmmakers, each with such powerful messages to show on the big screen.