The most interesting thing over the years about “Little Women” is that the story has a flexibility to it. It’d been adapted and done several times over the past several decades with a variety of stars and directors; it’s malleability is one that will make it an endearing novel for female artists for filmmakers to come.
It’s not shocking that Greta Gerwig would be the next one to tackle it. After directing Ladybird got her the job to direct it, after only being attached as a writer, she’s taken a different path to the same familiar tale of four sisters growing up in an era of limited options. This time she brings back Saorise Ronan in the lead role of Jo, the aspiring writer of the Little sisters. Rounding out the four are Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Eliza Scanlen.
Framing it through Jo’s writing of the great American novel, and told in chronological order as opposed to the novel’s flashback style, this is a familiar story we’ve seen a lot of times and Gerwig hasn’t produced the definitive version of it. There really hasn’t been that with “Little Women” in the same way “Pride & Prejudice” has the BBC mini-series as well as any number of adaptations.
This is closer in spirit (and just as amazing) as Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice was when it was released. It’s not also a similar level of quality; it’s not the definitive version BUT if there was going to be one you had to see to understand the book on a meaningful level then this is one you should see.
Some low level EPK pieces are included.
Columbia Pictures presents Little Women . Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig based on the novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, Chris Cooper, Bob Odenkirk, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep. Run Time: 135 minutes Rated PG-13. Released on DVD: 4.7.20
