Little Women (2019) succeeds at playing fast and loose with the story at the expense of relationships
Directed by Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird)
Written by Greta Gerwig, Louisa May Alcott (Lady Women book)
Starring Saoirse Ronan (The Lady Bones), Emma Watson (Lady Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), Florence Pugh (Lady MacBeth), Eliza Scanlen (Sharp Lady), Laura Dern (Jurrassic Lady)
The classic story of four sisters is condensed and twisted to make a surprising fresh take but seems to leave out much of the relationships that made the story strong.
Forcing personality through members of a group tends to fracture the group. This can happen at the workplace, in friend circles, and in families. One could argue that the point of these groups is to strengthen the individual. Greta Gerwig takes the classic story of the March family and presents a disjointed timeline, highlighting the changing lives of the sisters, setting relationship drama aside, and recontextualizing the original text as a work of fiction within the story.
Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy live with their mother in a nice pastoral home during the Civil War. Their father is off in the war, so the five of them make due with a comfortable but meager existence. Enter a neighbor boy, Laurie, as well as other members of the community to grow and separate the family. At the same time, we see the story seven years later, with Jo making her living as a teacher and writer, creating the story of Little Women as we catch up with what her sisters are doing.
Let me be honest, I was a little late to the movie. I came in with the scene before the party, with the sisters burning Meg's hair. From what I can gather, I only missed a few scenes with Jo getting a story edited, and Amy meeting Laurie in Paris. It's possible this could solve my only real complaint about that movie, that the relationships suffer in compacting the story. I'll also say, my only context for the story is the 1994 adaptation with Wynona Ryder and Christian Bale that focused on a more linear tale with Jo at the center. Never read the book and don't really plan to, but there you go.
The structure and direction of Gerwig's version are the highlights. The context and chaotic nature of the younger girls gets slowed down by their age as experienced, more mature women. Amy in particular shines as an almost different person with Florence Pugh giving duel performances as a child and a woman. The shot length felt like it became longer and more contemplative with the older women. Gerwig shows a fine hand with her storytelling that's exciting to see, expanding from her more personal story in Lady Bird.
Relationships seem to suffer more in the compacted story, however. We get only a few scenes with the Jo and Laurie and Laurie and Amy relationships, with each couple telling each other about their love. Beyond the first interaction at the party, Jo and Laurie do not seem to grow closer. The interpretation (from my limited perspective of the other movie) is that Laurie simply wants to officially be part of the March family, loving them all but especially the ones that love him back when it is convenient. In Gerwig's version, he is a member of the family (along with a surprise Chris Cooper appearance), marrying in because that's what the text has him do. I'm not opposed to giving the girls more agency and motivation, but for a love interest that seems integral Laurie seems underwritten.
That may be on purpose, though. That fine hand with storytelling comes in near the end, with Gerwig writing Jo as being in control of the story we have watched. Her and her editor discuss changing the ending, manipulating it for emotions, so what the story we have seen may be a pure outline of that conversation. Laurie is left as a two dimensional character because the "real" Jo saw him that way, as the boy she knew and the man who married her sister. The ambiguity gives even more agency to a dynamic character, if only in the illusion of the narrative. It's a masterclass in using vagueness to deepen a story.
While not necessary to see this movie in the cinema, it is a delight and should be on anyone's to-watch list who likes well-made period dramas recontextualized for modern audiences or fans of the source material.
Here are my notes, beware spoilers
Surprise Chris Cooper
Seriously, this is the second time this guy has shown up that delighted me. The first was Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Both movies show his wide range and capable presence as both a stern and emotional actor.
It feels insular, Civil War
There's some commentary about the war at points, but the whole tale feels contained. Without pulling from the novel, I don't know how deep this is taken, but it just feels off.
Meg blows money
It was nice to see the girls as less than perfect. Sure, Amy is a brat as she complains and burns Jo's book, but Meg always felt like a pure soul. That she can be lead into temptation is a striking change in the narrative.
Do it for someone else
Often we hear stories of writers being told, "do it for yourself." It's nice to get the writing advice that "hey, other people need to read this stuff, too." Finding one soul to do something for, who you know will appreciate the time and energy it takes to make art, it makes a difference.
Beth's quiet actor
It wasn't until I got home and started researching that I found out Eliza Scanlen is the same girl from Sharp Objects. Holy crap she's good. I won't ruin that show, but let's just say this woman has range, and I hope to see her in more.
Aunt - marry well
Do I need to tell you how good Meryl Streep is? Really damn good.
Forward reading letters off putting
So, there's one bit of direction in the movie that felt super strange. When letters are read or written by the girls, the character faces the camera like a reality show. It's kinda off-putting to be honest. Creepy.
Airport chase - ending to train
Not sure how this lines up with the book or other adaptations, but Jo chasing her love through the rain to the train felt very romantic comedy. It levels even more doubt on the validity of what we are seeing, another point in writing that works.