Little Women

So sometimes, it felt like the project pandered to a certain idea of feminism. Although most would certainly approve, few might find it tedious or think that it is outdated or simply not the kind we actually need in this day and age. But one should remember that in the end, Little Women is a family-friendly-ish “romcom-y” drama that can appeal to masses. So it is just commonsense that it would be as it is with all its feel-good vibes and evident happy endings despite the characters’ ups and downs. Nonetheless, one might be right to think it could have accomplished so much more instead of being not much more than an, albeit, great film and adaptation in its own right with a fresh coat of “fresh paint.” If this exact version came out 30 or even 20 years ago, it would’ve been great, but in this trying times, it doesn’t feel “necessary.” So, one might find this iteration quite novel while another won’t see much “reimagining” here, just “same old same old,” but with a new batch of “It Girls” (well, a certain type!) It is however interesting to note that these quintessential “American girls” are played by “foreigners”!

Little Women is also as meta as it gets! Originally written by Alcott and inspired by her life—the Jo of the story—the film is simultaneously about the book, its fictional heroines, and about the making of that book and its real author (through movie Jo!) Obviously, Greta Gerwig, also added the women director vision and her ideas in the mix. This “meta-combo” sometimes showed, which transpired as either fun or forced.

However, despite its many flaws, there is something about this remake that makes it undeniably grandiose. As mentioned earlier, Little Women is admirable on many technical levels and cinematic aspects, from acting, directing, magnificent costumes design, and praise-worthy production design.  Maybe one could have hoped for a more memorable score by the great Alexandre Desplat, but this one was quite fitting and in the spirit of the holidays!

“…despite its many flaws, there is something about this remake that makes it undeniably grandiose.”

Indeed, Gerwig’s Little Woman is what every Christmas movie wish they were: very conventional but with a modern “feminist lite” approach. It is filled with romances even when trying hard, telling us the heroine is solely in “love” and devoted to her work. There is nothing wrong with being 100% careerist, or 100% hopeless romantic, or 200% both! But the film message seems to get lost in translation by trying to appeal to all groups.

Therefore it is a comforting movie with an old-school aura and happy endings all around. It is what Hollywood flicks used to be all about, so in the end, one should not be surprised that despite being about, and having the word “women” in the title (and being directed by one), this movie finds some love from voters this Award season…Well, if not, they will always have “movies about, and with older men’s names in the title” type with Ford v Ferrari! In a way, Little Women is the more “feminine” equivalent (and again, absolutely nothing wrong with that) of the over-hyped “dad-movie”— which also definitely feels like a movie that should have been great in the 90s!

Lastly, we need to talk about the ending (so half-spoiler ahead!). Gerwig did not take her own film’s advice lightly since it said ‘the right ending is the one that sells.’ so she thought it best to offer alternatives to please everyone! It might make some Little Women die-hard fan giddy and ecstatic, but some audience members might wish they just picked a lane as this is not a project fit for a Nolan, Mr. Robot, or Black Mirror-esque alternate reality / choose-your-own-ending type. The two possible endings also felt rushed and were, as intended, ultra-melodramatic with all the (old-fashioned) Hollywood romance clichés. Maybe it would have made Alcott proud, but it also felt like a let down considering that she – who could afford not getting married in the 19th century- really did not want to marry Jo…because: she had to! But she had to. 21st century Gerwig did not have to, but she still did, because…why not!