Little Woman is an American Novel written by Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868 in the backdrop of American Civil War. This is Greta Gerwig’s adaptation and is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Meg March, Jo March, Beth March, and Amy March are sisters and they have their own views of life and interests. Their father is taking part in the Civil War and hence the family is fully taken care of by their mother Marmee March. Marmee is generous to fellow beings and her influence can be seen in the characters of her children as well. Jo wants to be a writer and she is struggling in New York to establish herself, but she is trying her best. Amy March who pursues to study painting is in Europe in an attempt to get married to rich man Vaughan. She accidentally meet their childhood friend and Jo’s lover Laurie. Slowly their relationship starts to take a different path. But Beth’s health has turned out to be worse and hence all should return home.
The script and dialogues are splendid and stamp the theme of the movie – women’s individuality. This is proclaimed to the world through Jo March’s words “Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for.”. Amy’s words are nothing short of the portrayal of injustice the male domination has shown to women “I’m just a woman. And as a woman, I have no way to make money, not enough to earn a living and support my family. Even if I had my own money, which I don’t, it would belong to my husband the minute we were married. If we had children they would belong to him, not me. They would be his property. So don’t sit there and tell me that marriage isn’t an economic proposition, because it is.”.
There are ensemble woman artists in the movie which includes Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern and Meryl Streep but the show belongs to Saoirse Ronan as Jo March and Laura Dern as Marmee March. Florence Pugh also brings to frame the selfish character beautifully. Jo March shows to the world that prejudice of men and society is not going to alienate her from the path she wished for. A true character. I have seen Laura Dern in Big Little Lies where she did a brilliant performance but now in an entirely opposite character she delivers the same authentic performance with much ease. She will make your eyes moist not because of sadness but because of the kindness and deeds. She does everything with a pinch of love. Her smile embossed with love is to stay for a while in the viewers minds.
Alexandre Desplat’s music provided the apt rhythm for the story. The camera by Yorick Le Saux moved with characters so easily to capture their emotions. Especially the scene where Jo March is running through the streets, the camera movement gave a special experience. The period was created without flaw by Sean Falkner and Bryan Felty. Academy award for Best Achievement in Costume Design was won by Jacqueline Durran. The real beauty of the product was the direction by Greta Gerwig and editing by Nick Houy mixing the past and present in a specific pattern, it gave an impression of a beautifully woven fabric. This is definitely a feel good movie and the creators have done true justice to the novel and era. I go with a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars (Outstanding piece of work (Excellent)) for the story of women’s struggle for liberation.
Rajeev is Reacting 