Little Women

Around 3/4s of the way into Little Women the sniffling started up in the left hand corner of the audience. Then came the nose blowing, startling in it's loudness. Then the unabashed sobbing. If you don't know the story of Little Women this might sound odd but if you know it you'll know exactly what and where i'm talking about. You know Greta Gerwig's adaption of the famous book has succeeded when this happens.

The Marsh women have grown up. Meg (Emma Watson) is married with children. Amy (Florence Pugh) is studying art in Paris and living with her rich Aunt March (Meryl Streep, brilliantly briary). Jo (Saoirse Ronan) is trying to make a living as a teacher and writer in New York and Beth (Eliza Scanlen) is still at home in Concord, Massachusetts, with their mother Marmee(Laura Dern). Life is easier for some than for others. Seven years before they were all under the same roof waiting for their father to come back from the Civil War. The eldest Meg was looking forward to a traditional married life, tomboy Jo was champing at the bit to get away and start a creative life, quiet Beth content with her music and Amy, the youngest, wanting to be involved in everything and making doe eyes at the boy next door, Laurie (Timothée Chalamet), who only has Jo on his mind.

Director Greta Gerwig's follow up to her debut Lady Bird is a brave one. She takes one of the most famous books ever written, deconstructs it and rearranges it in a non linear fashion in a move that might tick off lifelong fans but it just works perfectly onscreen. The lows of the book feel even more crushing but the highs just soar. The heartwarming family interplay, a smile of acceptance, a moment under an umbrella, comedic jealousy, a well played negotiation, the introduction of a new face to an acting troupe, Christmas generosity. Introducing us to the March's as grown ups living out their dreams gives the story more impetus than starting with the childish exploits of their teenage years. Cutting back and forth deepens the characters (especially Amy) and helps us understand why and how they end up where they do. It's a clever move and one that works a charm as the film reaches it's end. Plus it will keep those who know the story on their toes and maybe even enjoy it more seeing it from a fresh perspective. 

Meg gets the short straw here but her character and her life choices are never belittled by the script or it's direction and Emma Watson brings her to life charmingly. Eliza Scanlen nails Beth's shyness and kindess, Laura Dern exudes warmth as the ever generous Marmee (watch that early scene where she composes herself before bringing bad news, superb) but the majority of the heavy lifting is done by Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan. Pugh as Amy turns a one note character into something far more likable than on the page (that early betrayal though, always hurts) but it's a bit of a push to see her as a young teen. Chalamet is excellent as Laurie, a boy who could be smug, stroppy and cutting and plays him in a way that makes his effect on the March ladies understandable. He's far more agreeable here than in his last Gerwig collaboration. Saoirse though, wow, she owns the film. Her Jo is an electrifying presence, untamed, hilarious, and as in the book she feels like a character out of time and in her scenes with Laurie, on a beach, outside a dance, overlooking a beautiful New England vista, the chemistry just spills off the screen which means a whole dose of bittersweetness later on. Ahh C'est La Vie.

The to and fro from past to present is a little confusing even if you know the source material but little things help. A boyish haircut for one and the fact that the early scenes are suffused with a warm glow help keep us abreast of where we are in the narrative. But once you get into the rhythm it all just flows. It adds a contempary flourish to a 151 year old story that still bristles with topicality. It's a watch that will strike a chord with modern social media savvy audiences everywhere, women and men. The power of feminism, the urgency of breaking through societal glass ceilings, the value of ambition but also the need not to force your values on others, the importance of family, how utterly vital kindness is in a cruel world. There's a lot going on here, enough to satisfy even those who won't see this as their cup of tea. 

Little Women isn't out until the 27th of December but it's worth the wait. It's one that will become a Christmas staple in the future. A beautiful film filled with sublime acting from an stellar cast. Go see it before it starts scooping up all the awards next year.