Little Women (2019) via IMDb

Among the many adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s acclaimed novel, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women (2019) is the one that stands out the most. From its cinematography to the characters’ portrayal, the movie perfectly captures the story’s depth as well as its representation of womanhood.

Little Women follows the lives of the four March sisters living with their mother in Massachusetts during the 1860s while their father serves in the Civil War. The audience watches them grow from childhood into adulthood, facing joys and obstacles that shape their lives.

The characters are diverse and have depth, making them easy to connect with. Each sister is unique and relatable. Jo, the protagonist, is free-spirited, fiercely loyal, stubborn and at times hot-headed. She has strong morals and dreams of becoming a writer. Ahead of her time, she struggles with the limitations placed on women in the 19^th century: “Women have minds and souls as well as just hearts, and they’ve got ambition and talent as well as just beauty, and I’m sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for.” Jo greatly values her independence but also eventually realizes that it may come in hand with loneliness.

Meg, the eldest, embodies tradition and beauty. Though drawn to acting, her true dream is to marry and have a family of her own, much unlike Jo. She even tells her sister:

“Just because my dreams are different than yours, it doesn’t mean they’re unimportant.”

Little Women depicts feminism not only as women being independent and career-oriented , which is what would usually come to mind, but also as women being mothers and wanting a family. Feminism is about choice. There is strength in independence and ambition, just as there is in domesticity and motherhood.

The third sister, Beth, is shy, peaceful, and a talented pianist. Yet she does not dream of stardom; she simply wishes to spend a quiet life with her family. For her, happiness is in simplicity and her loved ones. On the other hand, Amy, the youngest, is ambitious and grounded, but also spoiled and vain. She dreams of becoming a renowned painter in Europe and part of fine society, which Jo considers to be shallow. Yet, Amy is a great depiction of young girls wanting to fit in and their pressures to conform. As an adult, she becomes the image of a “perfect lady” but struggles to fulfill her artistic dreams: “I want to be great or nothing.”

Interestingly, even though Jo and Amy clash, they are also the most alike in their authenticity, temper, and ambition. They both ultimately wish to be successful and to support their family. However, while Jo wants to do so by earning her own money, Amy wants to support them by marrying rich as she has come to terms with her economic limitations as a woman. She delivers a powerful monologue, framing marriage as an economic proposition in a world where women have no financial freedom. This version of Little Women is distinct as it dives deeper into the themes of womanhood, childhood dreams, societal expectations, and economic struggles in the 19^th century.

The cinematography certainly captures one’s attention by enriching the story’s emotional core. Heartfelt conversations by the beach evoke intimacy and stillness, while confessions framed against vast landscapes are filled with intensity. Each scene reflects the beauty of being present in the moment, while the soundtrack complements this aspect. Alexandre Desplat, the composer, perfectly transmits each emotion through sweeping orchestration filled with urgency as well as light piano to show the warmth of domestic life.

What sets the contemporary version apart most is the non-linear structure. The film experiments with timelines by jumping back and forth between the past and the present. Greta Gerwig makes this more evident by adding a cool blue tint to the present scenes, making them seem cold and lonely. The past, however, is presented with a warm yellowish tint, evoking feelings of nostalgia and youthfulness. The audience therefore embarks on a rollercoaster, shifting from childhood to womanhood.

With the last adaptation dating back to 1994, Greta Gerwig brings back a classic by giving it a fresh new spin. Overall, Little Women is a must-watch for anyone looking for a coming-of-age movie filled with complex characters, family, love, and especially, sisterhood.