Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Alcott's Little Women brings a fresh new style to this literary classic.
Greta Gerwig's adaptation of this 150 year old novel brings life to this continuously reimagined piece of writing. Gerwig's interpretation of the book brings a refreshing presentation of the girls in the March family, especially with Amy March played by Florence Pugh. Louisa Alcott's novel follows the story of the March girls: Meg (Emma Watson), Amy (Florence Pugh), Beth (Eliza Scanlen) and Jo (Saoirse Ronan) after the Civil War, we see them as children and as adults battling the sexist views that women need a man by their side.
Little Women was first printed in 1868, and has continuously been made into many different adaptations in film. One reason that the continuous adaptations does not become boring is the different styles that is brought alive through the director's vision. Gerwig's decision to change the timeline compared to the book and other portrayals, giving the story a non-linear timeline, makes the audience focus their attention more. We see the characters first as women in their adulthood years all trying to make their own mark in the world, and then the story flashes back and forth from them in their younger years to adult years, where we see the strong bond between the sisters and their mother (Laura Dern). Some say that the non-linear structure made the film confusing and hard to follow, but I would argue that it gives this film heart and adds to the emotions that you feel when watching it. The structure adds to the emotionality of the film, a lot more than if it was chronological order, as our thoughts are switched up between the scenes of the March family in the present and the past.
This story is mainly about women who want things for themselves and have ambitions and hopes that they wish to succeed in. Saoirse Ronan's feisty and outspoken portrayal of Jo perfectly illustrates this embodiment of the films message. Gerwig's interpretation of Jo revitalises the story giving the film set in the 19th century a modern feel to it. Jo's character presents a lack of femininity as she is a sort of 'tomboy' character who does not wish to follow the usual female role of marriage. This is portrayed well through the clothing choices and style of Jo, with her scruffy look and her outspoken personality as she says what she believes in when she wants without thinking of the consequences. Ronan's powerful scenes in this film about how she wishes to be loved but also wishes to not have to rely on a man clearly portray the struggles that women faced, especially Alcott as she based Jo on her own moral views.
Even though this film portrays the view that a woman does not need a man, which was a very uncommon and modern thinking view when the book came out in 1868, there is still a beautiful illustration of a love story between Jo, Laurie (their neighbour played by Timothée Chalamet) and Amy. This love between the characters that starts from childhood is what draws the film away from a stereotypical love film of the 19th century, as the character of Jo throughout the film does not wish to marry but to live a life for her writing (like the author Louisa Alcott, who never married).
Greta Gerwig's presentation of Amy can be arguably one of the reasons why this adaptation is so enlivening. Florence Pugh is amazing in her role as Amy, portraying her in a different light to the other versions who see Amy as the bratty, spoilt member of the March family. In this adaptation Gerwig focuses on other parts of Amy's personality that make her arguably the strongest, brightest and most talented member of the family. I would argue that Pugh steals the show as Amy in a monologue scene where Amy recalls why she wishes to marry rich and how everything that women have, money, career, children truly is not hers but her husbands. This is a powerful scene that really envisions what this film is about and how even though in other adaptations Amy is just seen as spoilt, here she is seen as empowering and doing what she has to do to have some sort of her own life and family.
Greta Gerwig gives a beautiful modern feel to her adaptation making what should be an outdated film from the 19th century that addresses arguments about marriage, and femininity feel that it is still prominent in our society today. The perfectly chosen cast for this film illustrate the refreshing portrayals of the characters which show the warmth family life of the March family, shown in Laurie's family wishing to care for the March's as they notice the beautiful dynamic of the family.
Comments