Little Women (2019)

 

Genre: Romance/Drama

Time: 2h 15mins

Director: Greta Gerwig

Quick Summary: Jo March reflects back and forth on her life, telling the beloved story of the March sisters - four young women, each determined to live life on her own terms.

Ever so touching and warming, but so emotional at times. A wonderful film that is great all year round.

This is so beautiful to watch, I loved almost every shot. There was so much to look at in some, and in others, it was wonderfully empty. Things were placed precisely so that nothing was overrun with items and everything had enough space. The colours are so pretty too. Warm orange and browns mingle together, pale blues and whites sit perfectly together, and the palettes are pleasing to the eye. A lot of the landscape shots are stunning too with bright bold colours. 

For someone who doesn't know the story, this can be very confusing from the very start as it goes back and forwards through past and present without warning, well the actors play both their older and younger selves so it can be very hard to place when certain events are happening. However, I did like that, as it made a couple of scenes later on much more impactful and emotional to be the context beforehand. 

I think most of the actresses did incredible in their roles, each one wonderful in their own way. Ronan is fabulous as Jo, the strong-willed and headstrong, but sensitive lead; Watson is the softer and gentler sister (I do wish we got more of her character); Scalen is the quietest but kindest; and lastly, Pugh is the most direct and determined. One thing to mention about her is that I liked her character arc of being incredibly immature and selfish to using that selfishness to get exactly where she's always wanted to be. 

A lot of the dialogue from this is so memorable and powerful. It knows exactly where and when to hit those emotional moments. At times it's so sweet and heartwarming to watch these sisters prance around life in their younger days just having fun and dreaming about their future, and then it hits so hard with the reality of their futures. Nothing is ever downright depressing in this though, it's heavily sad, but always with a touch of lightheartedness. Good comes with the bad. This film is really like a long warm hug. 

This is slow. A lot of the scenes play out for a long while and really not a lot happens but this isn't something too packed full of drama or action. It's a sweet tale about family and life. There is a lot of dialogue too that doesn't really matter. Again, this doesn't need everything to be important. It's realistic with life and it's moments. It shows hardships, forgiveness, raw emotions, people's flaws actually can actually affect others, kindness, defeat, and heartbreak. 

Finally, this is a story about four sisters, that despise being very different from each other, they love each other and are always there for each other. It's about being a family. It portrays family can be difficult at times, and not everyone is going to get along always, but there is always room for forgiveness. 

I love this and find it incredibly touching. Absolutely timeless and such a wonderful story.

8/10

"Jo March: 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 just all a woman is fit for. I'm so sick of it.

[Almost crying]

Jo March: But I'm so lonely..."

"Amy March: Well, I believe we have some power over who we love, it isn't something that just happens to a person.

Theodore 'Laurie' Laurence: I think the poets might disagree.

Amy March: Well, I'm not a poet, I'm just a woman."

"Marmee March: You remind me of myself.

Jo March: But you're never angry.

Marmee March: I'm angry nearly every day of my life.

Jo March: You are?

Marmee March: I'm not patient by nature, but with nearly forty years of effort I'm learning to not let it get the better of me."

"Aunt March: It's possible to be right and foolish."