I am generally not a fan of remakes/reboots; I believe the reliance on doing what has already been done distracts from the discovery of new and inspiring voices in cinema.
Greta Gerwig, however, has changed my mind. Did society need another rendition of Little Women, the Louisa May Alcott novel that was first published in 1868 and has been remade over 14 times? Will this be the quintessential female empowerment film of the year released at a perfect time? Are we all the better for it? A resounding yes! To all of the above.
This interpretation of the life and times of the March sisters stays faithful to the novel while embracing Gerwig’s charm and quick-witted charisma. A story of love, loss, and coming of age, these four sisters – Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Meg (Emma Watson), Amy (Florence Pugh), and Beth (Eliza Scanlen) – rely on each other to navigate life’s unpredictability and hardships. All independent thinkers with unique personalities, the women are headstrong in their quest to find personal fulfillment, which means different things to each of them. Jo, the outspoken feminist of the group, is committed to her work as an aspiring writer. Despite her admiration for her wealthy neighbor, the charming and confident Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence (Timothée Chalamet), she turns down his marriage proposal in favor of a life she can call her own. Her views on love and marriage stand opposite to Meg and Amy’s, who find love in very unexpected partners. The youngest and more reserved sister, Beth, finds happiness through music but, as we learned 150 years ago when the novel was released, even her passion and purity can’t protect her from contracting an incurable illness.
Despite being set in a post-Civil War era, the script, which was adapted for the screen by Gerwig, feels fresh with sharp, sassy humor. The dynamic between Jo and Laurie feels like any modern-day teenage couple trying to figure out their relationship through the ups and downs of tears and laughter. In addition to modernizing the characters, Gerwig takes some creative liberty in her storytelling by jumping through the timeline, with the only distinction between past and present being the more saturated color palette of the past as opposed to the more bleak and gray reality of the present. It’s a stylized decision that works wonders.
Aside from being a directorial knockout, the assembly of this all-star cast is an exciting who’s who of legendary and iconic artists. Laura Dern provides an emotionally moving performance as Marmee, and Meryl Streep is unmatched in her cattiness as Aunt March. Saoirse Ronan is fierce as the protagonist, Jo, but perhaps the film’s biggest surprise is Florence Pugh, whose hypnotic voice and measured understanding of comedic timing both enhances the ensemble cast while simultaneously stealing every scene.
The vibrancy that radiates from Little Women feels reminiscent of Gerwig’s past both as a director in Lady Bird and as an actor in Frances Ha. What all of these films have in common are strong female leads whose confidence in themselves and their dreams surpass any societal expectations. No matter if it’s 1868 or 2020, the timelessness of Little Women is undeniable; there will always be women who strive for personal fulfillment and love on their terms.
LITTLE WOMEN (2019)
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Timothée Chalamet
Directed by Great Gerwig
Written by Greta Gerwig, Louisa May Alcott (based on the novel by)
Distributed by Sony Pictures. 135 minutes.
In theaters everywhere Christmas Day.
