“I intend to make my own way in this world.” Welcome back to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, ‘Little Women.’ This ambitious update is written and directed by Greta Gerwig. It’s a beautiful and faithful version indeed. She captures the pain of growing up in an era where women had few career options beyond marrying a man for financial stability. The story follows four sisters looking for love and independence during the aftermath of the Civil War. Although there have been several film adaptations before it, Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ is a boldly modern retelling of the classic story.
The story involves four sisters that include Jo (Saoirse Ronan), the tomboy that has a talent for writing. Meg (Emma Watson), the eldest, Amy (Florence Pugh), the artist dilettante and Beth (Eliza Scanlen), the youngest and a talented pianist. The performances are outstanding here. The standout is Florence Pugh (Midsommar) but the film is carried by the talented Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird). The narrative is told in a non-linear style. We get to see them as young women carving their path in the world. We also get well-structured flashbacks of the girls from their teenage years. Their stories are brought to life thanks to Jo writing about them in her novel.
It’s a joy to watch these sisters gather around a fireplace or around a dinner table for their Christmas meal. They fight, they love and they cry. The famous moments of the novel are here such as Amy burning Jo’s writing, the burning of Meg’s hair, the relationship between Jo and Laurie (Timothee Chalamat) and the ice skating scene. Gerwig also lets the characters develop into womanhood. We see glimpses of Jo’s success as a writer as she negotiates a contract with a publisher (Tracey Letts). We see Amy travel to Europe and become a serious artist. There is also a love triangle dealing with Chalamat’s character. Meg marries out of love and not just for money. All the while, Gerwig makes the novel feel lively and relevant for today.
Gerwig has created something special here. She respects the source material while ensuring her own creative stamp is present. The themes are universal for the modern woman. It deals with female empowerment and the viability of creative pursuits. The true heroine of the story is Jo. Ronan captures the free-spirited, tomboy perfectly. With ink-stained fingers, she fearlessly pursues her passion for writing. She never settles for the traditional role of women. She is a relatable character for women to emulate. Gerwig also handles the complex relationship between Jo and Amy with aplomb. Pugh delivers an effervescent performance. She takes the character of Amy beyond her bratty and spoiled image.
Gerwig has taken a classic and revitalized it. She truly honors the spirit of ‘Little Women.’ Telling the story out of chronological order is true genius. It accentuates the dreams we have when we are young and as years march forward, we have to set our limitations. However, it is that youthful spirit in all of us that make the triumphs in adulthood that much sweeter. With that said, Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ is a testament of hope. ‘Little Women’ reminds us that we all have the potential to realize some of our childhood dreams. I cannot wait to see Ms. Gerwig’s next film project.
