Co-written by Samantha Blake & Ann Blake.
Today’s movie is based on the 1868 novel by the same name written by Louisa May Alcott. Our central characters are the March sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy and their rich boy next-door Laurie aka Teddy. Fun fact, Little Women has never been out of print! That’s a lot of copies!
Our movie starts at the end of the book with an adult Jo entering a NY publishing office, short stories in hand. The editor ruthlessly edits her stories, but ultimately offers her $20 per story, which in today’s money equates to $362. Jo is of course ecstatic and immediately returns to the boarding house she resides in and mails the money home to the family. From this point, the movie flashes back and forth between childhood and adult life. The flashbacks enhance the plot, which is seldom the case when the director utilizes the flashback format. All of the flashbacks from childhood are filmed using a slight warm glow, which helps the viewer distinguish the scene from the cooler toned present scenes. Kudos to director, Greta Gerwig, for this visual nuance.
The sisters are introduced to us at this point their ages ranging from young teens to nearly twenty. Meg the most maternal and romantic minded, Jo the spirited burgeoning writer, Beth, sweet and musically inclined and Amy the artist with dreams of painting in Paris. Father March is away ministering in the Civil War, leaving Marmee (Mother March) to raise the rambunctious young women. Aunt March, played masterfully, by Meryl Streep, is the unmarried rich matriarch of the family. Aunt March, frustrated with the girls’ lack of refinement and desire to be ornaments of society, finds Amy, her lone hope to marry well and save her family from destitution.
The longtime neighbor next door, Mr Laurence, has never been social with the March family. Long suffering the loss of his young daughter, it was not until his grandson Laurie arrives that he becomes friendly with the family. Laurie, being the same age of Jo, is quickly drawn to the warm and welcoming March family. In one of the many great scenes, Jo and Meg are attending a holiday ball where they first meet Laurie- who feels as out of place as does Jo. They instantly hit it off, while others dance inside the ball, Jo and Laurie dance flamboyantly outside where no one can see them, or Jo’s scorched dress.
This begins a years long intimate friendship with Jo and Laurie, with the two households embracing and supporting each other.
The ending is unique in that we see what could either be Jo March or Louisa May Alcott in the publisher’s office negotiating her book deal contract. After conceding that she will marry the main character off, she wants more money upfront saying “If I’m going to sell off my main character for money, I might as well get some of it.” We flashback between the “happy ending” to watching Jo/Louisa in the present witnessing her book become printed and bound, which offers the audience a duality to the traditional happy ending.
Greta Gerwig’s screenplay and direction are loyal to Alcott’s book and bring freshness to the story and characters. Equal development is given to all the sisters; this is not a movie just about Jo, although the movie is still from Jo’s perspective. Unlike the book, we are privy to more of the motivations of Amy who is usually the least liked March sister. The character now acts as an interesting foil to Jo’s development.
It was a fresh approach to have, at certain points, the characters look directly into the camera and propel us into a scene or time period. Again, it’s not used in a “tacky” way, but makes perfect sense given the context and feel of the film. The filming locations in Massachusetts, costuming and soundtrack all add to the authentic, revered, feel of the film.
No complaints about casting here, but Saoirse Ronan as Jo, Florence Pugh as Amy and Timothee Chalamet as Laurie gave exemplary performances.
Little Women must be seen in a real theatre, a Red Box will not do it justice. It’s ok to Red Box if you want to see it a second or third time, but make the effort, you will not be disappointed. This is a film for everyone, young and old, men and women, and any other folx will find something to enjoy in this movie. Ann doesn’t even like period dramas, but she loved this film.
Little Women, is rated A!! A fabulous way to end 2019
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