Little Women
Director: Gillian Armstrong
Cast: Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Trini Alvarado, Claire Danes, Samantha Mathis, Christian Bale
Inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic by the same name, “Little Women” follows the life story of four sisters – Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy – as they grow into little women in Concord, Massachusetts.
Each of the four girls experiences a unique transformation throughout the course of the film. As children, they each have distinct personalities: Jo is the independent tomboy, Meg is the proper lady, Beth is the shy and gentle spirit with the servant’s heart, and Amy is the effervescent and whimsical youngest sister. Although their personalities are unique, these sisters maintain an unbreakable bond that allows them to endure even the darkest of adversities.
While all of the girls have individual men who they have given their heart to, Laurie is truly the catalyst that is connected with all four of the sisters. When the youngest sister, Amy, is sent away after Beth falls prey to scarlet fever, it is Laurie who is there to comfort her and allay her fears. When Laurie and Amy are reunited in France years later, Laurie is drawn to her, but although Amy cares for him, she refuses to give her heart to him because she believes that he is still in love with Jo. When Beth falls ill again years later, it is Laurie who goes to comfort Amy when she can’t be with her family and it is also Laurie who brings her safely home to them as his wife.
While Beth does not experience the romantic feelings for a man that her sisters do, Beth’s heart is still changed by the compassion of one man: Teddy’s grandfather, Mr. Lawrence. When her life is threatened by scarlet fever, it is Mr. Lawrence’s compassion for Beth that allows the child’s life to be restored. Alas, Beth’s battle with scarlet fever left her forever changed. When mortality comes for Beth a second time, she is no longer the fragile child sheltered in the protective arms of her family. While her heart aches at the prospect of saying goodbye, her faith is strong, and she is able to surrender to death in peace.
Jo is the most independent of the four sisters, and the sister that undergoes the most transformation as the story unfolds. Although in the beginning, Jo is a strong and independent spirit who has absolutely no desire to conform to the expectations of her family or society, she is deeply devoted to her family and loves them unconditionally. When her father is wounded in battle, it is Jo who sacrifices her beautiful hair to pay for her mother’s train ticket so that her father won’t be alone. When Beth falls prey to scarlet fever, it is Jo who comforts her both as a child, and then later when she surrenders her life to God. Although the bond that Laurie and Jo share is incredibly powerful, and he is the one she clings to in moments of excruciating pain, their bond is not strong enough for her to marry him. When Jo meets Professor Bhaer in New York, his wisdom and gentle nature softens her wild heart and he inspires Jo to write from the depths of her soul. He is also the one who ultimately wins Jo’s heart after she returns home.
For Meg, the eldest sister, her connection with Laurie is illustrated during a brief moment of time when she allows herself to be drawn into a world of elegance and vanity; a world that is much different from the one that she and her sisters have grown up in. Although she secretly yearns for this kind of life, once she has experienced the elegance and charm of high class society, Meg realizes that she doesn’t belong in this world at all. When Laurie finds her in this world, she confides her feelings to him and asks him not to tell her family how she behaved while she was there.
“Little Women” is one of those rare films that is timeless, heartwarming and absolutely perfect. The film has endured because the passage of time because its story and characters are so universally understood. The casting for this movie is absolutely perfect, particularly for Winona Rider who embodies the strong and independent spirit of Jo and Susan Sarandon who plays the wise and compassionate Marmee. If you enjoy a timeless classic, then this film is definitely one that is worthy of your time.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Gillian Armstrong
Cast: Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Trini Alvarado, Claire Danes, Samantha Mathis, Christian Bale
Inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic by the same name, “Little Women” follows the life story of four sisters – Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy – as they grow into little women in Concord, Massachusetts.
Each of the four girls experiences a unique transformation throughout the course of the film. As children, they each have distinct personalities: Jo is the independent tomboy, Meg is the proper lady, Beth is the shy and gentle spirit with the servant’s heart, and Amy is the effervescent and whimsical youngest sister. Although their personalities are unique, these sisters maintain an unbreakable bond that allows them to endure even the darkest of adversities.
While all of the girls have individual men who they have given their heart to, Laurie is truly the catalyst that is connected with all four of the sisters. When the youngest sister, Amy, is sent away after Beth falls prey to scarlet fever, it is Laurie who is there to comfort her and allay her fears. When Laurie and Amy are reunited in France years later, Laurie is drawn to her, but although Amy cares for him, she refuses to give her heart to him because she believes that he is still in love with Jo. When Beth falls ill again years later, it is Laurie who goes to comfort Amy when she can’t be with her family and it is also Laurie who brings her safely home to them as his wife.
While Beth does not experience the romantic feelings for a man that her sisters do, Beth’s heart is still changed by the compassion of one man: Teddy’s grandfather, Mr. Lawrence. When her life is threatened by scarlet fever, it is Mr. Lawrence’s compassion for Beth that allows the child’s life to be restored. Alas, Beth’s battle with scarlet fever left her forever changed. When mortality comes for Beth a second time, she is no longer the fragile child sheltered in the protective arms of her family. While her heart aches at the prospect of saying goodbye, her faith is strong, and she is able to surrender to death in peace.
Jo is the most independent of the four sisters, and the sister that undergoes the most transformation as the story unfolds. Although in the beginning, Jo is a strong and independent spirit who has absolutely no desire to conform to the expectations of her family or society, she is deeply devoted to her family and loves them unconditionally. When her father is wounded in battle, it is Jo who sacrifices her beautiful hair to pay for her mother’s train ticket so that her father won’t be alone. When Beth falls prey to scarlet fever, it is Jo who comforts her both as a child, and then later when she surrenders her life to God. Although the bond that Laurie and Jo share is incredibly powerful, and he is the one she clings to in moments of excruciating pain, their bond is not strong enough for her to marry him. When Jo meets Professor Bhaer in New York, his wisdom and gentle nature softens her wild heart and he inspires Jo to write from the depths of her soul. He is also the one who ultimately wins Jo’s heart after she returns home.
For Meg, the eldest sister, her connection with Laurie is illustrated during a brief moment of time when she allows herself to be drawn into a world of elegance and vanity; a world that is much different from the one that she and her sisters have grown up in. Although she secretly yearns for this kind of life, once she has experienced the elegance and charm of high class society, Meg realizes that she doesn’t belong in this world at all. When Laurie finds her in this world, she confides her feelings to him and asks him not to tell her family how she behaved while she was there.
“Little Women” is one of those rare films that is timeless, heartwarming and absolutely perfect. The film has endured because the passage of time because its story and characters are so universally understood. The casting for this movie is absolutely perfect, particularly for Winona Rider who embodies the strong and independent spirit of Jo and Susan Sarandon who plays the wise and compassionate Marmee. If you enjoy a timeless classic, then this film is definitely one that is worthy of your time.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.