(1) My Top Recommendations of Book to Film Adaptations - Little Women ~ Greta Gerwig
- Lucy Pummell
- Aug 29, 2020
- 2 min read
This post is the first of a series of blog posts where I will be reviewing film adaptions of some of my favourite books. In this post I will be reviewing the film 'Little Women', directed by Greta Gerwig.
The original novel Little Women was first published in 1869 by Louisa May Alcott. Little Women is a classic representation of the Great American Novel portraying the vastly unknown story of young women at the time. The novel offers readers powerful realism regarding not only the realities of war, poverty and sickness but women’s experiences of love, ambition, hope and success.
In 2019 Greta Gerwig adapted this classic children’s novel, earning the film six Academy Award nominations, winning Best Costume Design, and nine Critics Choice Award nominations, winning Best Adapted screenplay, to name a few. One of my favourite aspects of the film was Gerwig’s attentive portrayal of each of the March sisters as individuals. The film took time to represent each of the girl’s differing personalities, while simultaneously displaying the core moral values they share which attribute to their united sisterly bond.
Despite the many previous televised series and films made adapting Little Women, Gerwig created a stunningly ageless adaption of the novel, with first class attention to historical accuracies of the time. The non-linear story-telling Gerwig opts for in this version of Little Women also adds to the uniqueness of the film. The movement from past and present within the film creates a sense of nostalgia but also allows for some poignant moments of reflection, particularly with Beth’s journey experiencing illnesses and Jo’s experiences in finding true love.
The inspirational, predominately strong female leading cast, including Emma Watson, Laura Dern and Meryl Streep, added to the empowerment the film spurred in its audience. As well as this, the balanced portrayal of each March sister, taking into valid consideration each of their beliefs and ambitions, allowed me to particularly see the character Amy in entirely new light. Gerwig’s direction turned the character Amy, from the spoiled, vain, youngest March sister that she is often characterised as, into a complex young woman, acted superbly by Florence Pugh, with passion, ambition and a sadly realistic expectation of her life as a woman in the 1860s, thus adding to the character’s depth and the empathy an audience would experience for her.
Another notable mention in the film is Saoirse Ronan who played Jo. Ronan is a brilliant actor who brought a strength and an endearingly lovable quality to the headstrong, tomboyish Jo.
A perfect protagonist for audiences to root for as Gerwig ensured we all felt the highs and lows alongside Jo throughout the entire film, as if we were living side-by-side her.
Overall I rate this film to book adaptation 10/10, as I believe that this colourful retelling of the classic children’s novel fulfils and brings to life Alcott’s original characters and plot. I cannot praise Gerwig’s directorial skills enough and urge readers to watch her debut film ‘Lady Bird’, also starring Saoirse Ronan.
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