A review of a beloved childhood classics, now as a film.

I remember having this collection of short stories when I was younger, this little, thick blue book with beautiful pictures I wrapped in clingfilm to protect. The story I held dearest to was Little Women; There is something about a book filled with the extraordinary tales of four very different sisters set in a time when women weren’t allowed to be the main character of any story, fact or fiction that is terrible heartwarming. 

So, you can imagine when I knew it was going to be a film adaption I was elated; but the difference with film adaptions the pressure is even higher than any film because you have to live up to the legacy of the book, especially if it’s such a celebrated book like Little Women. My hopes were high when I learned that acclaimed director Greta Gerwig was directing an impressive cast of Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen Timothée Chalamet, with no lack of star power I was almost certain it was going to deliver the potential of a timeless story that’s kept its charm for generations. 

The most impressive thing about having such a star-powered cast is how natural they play their characters; Pugh does an excellent job of making Amy’s more experienced outlook on life believable. While it simply just a matter of maturation, Pugh makes this simple concept more interesting and satisfying with her great performance. Similarly, Ronan is a great Jo March. She captivates the audience with the great strength and vulnerability that is her character, so much so, she even makes every rash decision make perfect sense.   

There are too many good things to say concerning the quality of the film, so perhaps the best praise I have for the film; is it was everything and more young girls like me reading the book could imagine. Indeed, it was a long film, but this ensured for the most part that the story felt as real as possible. There are not many instances when a hundred and fifty-year-old literature can feel so familiar and alive all at once. While a little more backstory on some of the characters that felt a bit pushed to the back wouldn’t hurt it ensured that the most prominent meanings of Little Women were really in focus.