Little Women Review: An Invigorating New Adaptation

Director: Greta Gerwig
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Mery Streep
Rating: U
Running time: 134 mins
Release date: 26/12/2019

LITTLE WOMEN –  a cherished text read by so many, but never has an adaptation of the story been so fruitfully delivered as this new movie by Greta Gerwig. Louisa May Alcott‘s one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old literature is everything you can hope for and more having been reimagined on the big screen, stage, television and even opera. For those who are aficionados of the universally admired book, you will be pleased to hear that Gerwig’s beguiling and amorous screenplay remains faithful to the book with much of the dialogue from it entwined perfectly into her script. This doesn’t mean that Gerwig has played it safe, she has helped to bring out the best in her sublime cast and the immersion of the different timelines in the lives of the March family perfectly deliver an intricate and imaginative retelling.

Since the book was first published back in 1868, readers have fallen in love with the strong-willed, high-spirited Josephine (Jo) March and her story has been lovingly seized in the film. Saoirse Ronan beautifully captures the buoyancy and purposeful nature of Jo who has once again teamed up with Gerwig after starring in her directorial debut, LADY BIRD. Ronan is triumphant in her delivery and shines on the big screen as Jo.

The movie tells the story of the impetuous and extraordinarily creative Jo; the conventional and traditional Meg; the kind and thoughtful Beth and the discordant and strident Amy. They’re sisters with their own outlooks and ambitions for life, who are living under the consequences of their own actions. Jo spent her youth embarking on a quest to become a published writer; Meg married for love to a tutor who is underprivileged; Beth’s kindness to a destitute family sees her health affected after suffering with scarlet fever and Amy has a tumultuous relationship with the next door neighbour, Theodore “Laurie” Laurence.

Related post: The Witcher Review: Your New Must-See Netflix Series 

Their story sets up a timeline which skips back to seven years preceding these events to the period where their sibling bond was strong and their carefree outlook on life was so honest and guiltless. The film jumps exquisitely between the two time periods as we watch the challenges of life unfold as the sisters are forced to experience the harsh realities of growing up into young women. 

The production sweeps along as though we are looking through the window at this extraordinary family – watching them grow and transform into captivating individuals. Saoirse Ronan’s delivery of Jo is perfection in motion, but effortlessly stealing the limelight in the movie is Florence Pugh who plays younger sister, Amy. She proves to be a real scene stealer and her commanding presence is undeniable. At first, young Amy may come across as rather self-centred and an impudent child, but Pugh manages to make her character engaging and it becomes clear that the two sisters are both jostling for attention because indeed they are one and the same. 

The overall cast for the film is percolating with talent as we see Emma Watson play Meg, Eliza Scanlen delivers an endearing performance as Beth and lets not forget Timothée Chalamet as the compassionate Laurie. Laura Dern and Meryl Streep are sublime in their roles as Marmee and Aunt March respectively. 

The amalgamation of this super cast prosperously convey a rollercoaster of emotions as the audience explores the simplicities of youthful, innocent pleasure; the contentment of family life; the exultation of finding love and of course the devastation that comes with bereavement. All the while, viewers are being swept along with the March girls’ lives which also brings its trials and tribulations. 

1 of 7

There is so much in the movie that modern day audiences can relate to from the subject matter as we are pulled into the lives of the March family so easily. With that being said, one of the most wondrous parts of the film is the finale where Jo’s happy ending is not necessarily based around her marriage to a professor, but Gerwig focuses on the publishing of Jo’s book entitled ‘Little Women.’ The final quarter may draw attention to Jo’s loneliness, but as she unites with her future husband, Gerwig has ensured that the real fulfilment for our literary heroine is finally the success of her work as she eagerly eyes her story being printed and covered.  

Overall, actor turned writer-director Greta Gerwig, could not ameliorate a more accomplished adaptation than this and her genius and flair bursts out in very frame. This light-hearted, inspiriting movie should be savoured by people of all ages, if not to just enjoy the historically faithful to its roots movie, but to relish the cinematic grandiose of scenes and the eloquent, profound portrayal of the venerated March family.

Have you seen Little Women yet? What do you think of the movie? As always, we like to know your thoughts, so leave a comment below, tweet us @filmandtvnow or drop us a comment on our Facebook page.

Little Women is out now in cinemas.

Please follow and like us: