Review: Greta Gerwig’s Little Women Speaks to a Whole New Generation
Little Women was released to the world in 1868 and quickly became an integral novel for many young women searching for their way in life. Written by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women is the tale of the four March sisters: ambitious want-to-be writer, Jo, eldest sister and beautiful, Meg, kind and gentle, Beth, and impetuous youngest sister, Amy. The novel, which was first introduced in two parts, was a huge success making the four March sisters household names that would transcend generations. The book has been republished countless times, made into a TV series, and has had seven film adaptations of it, with the eighth on its way. This Christmas, Greta Gerwig releases her adaptation of the semi-autobiographical book and it may be the best one yet.
Jo (Saoirse Ronan) takes the helm in this adaptation, and, unlike previous versions, this story is delivered through a series of flashbacks combined with our characters’ present. For many directors, this hopping from the past to the present can be a tough act to balance. Gerwig makes the transition seamlessly. There is no disruption to the flow of the story with each part, present and past, moving easily with the others to bring this intricate tale to life. Gerwig lets Jo’s point of view take the lead but never loses sight of the four sisters. Little Women has always been Jo’s story but it’s Jo and her sisters’ story. This film knows there are four separate, powerful, and strong women each finding her own way in post-Civil War Massachusetts.
The cast in this new adaptation is fantastic, with not a weak link in the bunch. Ronan puts the film on her shoulders and never puts it down. Her Jo is fierce and passionate and a character needed to be brought back to life. She and Gerwig once again knock it out of the park and continue to prove why they are a winning pair. Her portrayal of this character should earn her another Oscar nomination and, in my own personal opinion, the win. Florence Pugh portrays the youngest March sister, Amy, and is stellar in this role. Amy can be a challenging character to like, but Pugh makes her many layered and understandable. Pugh was tasked with a character that had the most growing up to do and excels in making both child Amy and newly adult Amy very real and very different.
Emma Watson tackles the role of Meg and is a great addition to the film. Watson’s Meg has extremely different dreams than Ronan’s Jo, which makes for some fun scenes between the two and reminds the audience not every woman has the same dreams. Eliza Scanlen plays the sweetest, best-of them sister, Beth and is perfect in her role. For those familiar with the story, our Beth has the most tragic of arcs and Scanlen is superb as the gentle, musically-gifted, quintessential middle sister.
Rounding out the star-studded cast is Timothée Chalamet, who plays the dreamy Laurie, Laura Dern as our matriarch Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March. Chalamet was born to play this role. From his playfulness with Ronan’s Jo to his more serious scenes, growing in to his own adulthood scenes with Pugh’s Amy, Chalamet is perfect. Dern and Streep are excellent, as usual, and highlight, again, how different and varied women can be.
Gerwig’s take on Little Women is a must see by all and my favorite film this year. This version is all about the sisters and their bond. Ronan, Watson, Pugh, and Scanlen were perfect casting. Their chemistry will have you believing they really are sisters, so bring the tissues because you will be crying by the end of the film.
This book first came out in 1868 and is still relevant in 2019 and this film re-enforces why. All of us, man or woman, have different dreams and challenges. This film, just like the novel, is meant for everyone.
Grade: A+