Gerwig’s movie is a classical gem, of which there are few in the landscape of modern film; it is warm, beautifully shot and performed and the perfect tonic on a cold winter’s day. Little Women is now playing in cinemas nationwide.
Greta Gerwig’s loyal, rich and beautiful Little Women is the sixth on-screen adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, following the 1994 Academy Award-nominated film starring Winona Ryder. Therefore, you may wonder whether Greta Gerwig offers us anything fresh in this timeless story of sisterly love, and I can confirm she does, with a warm, witty, passionate adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel that isn’t afraid to add layers of fresh insight.
In Gerwig’s Little Women, coming-of-age takes centre stage as Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) wrestles with a male-dominated world, a tangled love, and the need to protect her family at all costs. Here, Gerwig’s Little Women sings with a vibrant air of feminism and modernity while honouring the literary roots of the classic novel.
Gerwig introduces us to Jo March as she stands outside a New York publisher’s door, nervously seeking to expand her writing career through short stories in a local paper, while planning to fiercely negotiate the copyright to her work in a male-dominated world of news and publishing.
At the same time, her sister Amy (Florence Pugh) is travelling through Europe with the stern Aunt March, played brilliantly by the effervescent Meryl Streep, and her other sister Meg (Emma Watson) is attempting to settle into a financially strained marriage with the loving John Brooke (James Norton). Then there’s Beth (Eliza Scanlen), who remains at home with their mother, Laura Dern. And let’s not forget the adorable Laurie (Timothée Chalamet), who is also travelling across Europe in a haze of melancholy and booze after Jo rejected his love (what was she thinking!).
Using a series of flashbacks, Gerwig then explores the sisters’ lives and the family dynamics as they grow into young women. Love, rivalry, jealousy, and tragedy are woven with desire, joy, disappointment, and rejection. You know the story!
Alongside some truly stunning performances, Gerwig’s adapted screenplay shines. Her modern yet classic take on female empowerment is joyous, bold, and richly reflective of the spirit of Louisa May Alcott’s work. At the same time, the beautiful cinematography and score create the sensation of being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold winter’s day in front of a roaring fire.
Little Women is fiery yet tender as love simmers beneath every conversation and interaction with Chalamet’s Laurie, full of boyish charm as he attempts to woo the fiercely independent Jo. Gerwig’s movie is a classical gem, of which there are few in the landscape of modern film; it is warm, beautifully shot and performed and the perfect tonic on a cold winter’s day.
Director: Greta Gerwig
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep
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