Little Women (2019) — Movie Review
What a breathtaking beauty Saoirse Ronan is! Firstly, her first name is pronounced 'Ser-Sha'... just like inertia. Secondly, according to me, she is the most beautiful face to grace the silver screen since Madhubala.
Coming to the film itself, Little Women is not just a movie — it is a poem written on a lazy day by the beach, a plethora of emotions bundled into a lovely flower bouquet. The story is deceptively simple: four sisters navigating love, ambition, and loss. Yet, it is the manner of storytelling, the delicate weaving of past and present, that leaves one spellbound.
Characters and Performances
Saoirse Ronan shines as Jo March, embodying ambition, vulnerability, and relentless curiosity. Florence Pugh as Amy March delivers a layered performance, showing the character's growth from a self-centered young girl to a mature, creative woman. Emma Watson’s portrayal of Meg brings warmth and subtle humor, while Eliza Scanlen as Beth captures gentle fragility with immense depth. Timothée Chalamet’s Laurie is charming and multi-dimensional, balancing youthful impulsiveness with emotional resonance. Laura Dern as Marmee anchors the story with compassion and moral gravity, offering the audience a profound connection to the family’s emotional core.
Storytelling and Themes
Greta Gerwig’s choice of a non-linear narrative structure brings fresh perspective, highlighting the March sisters’ dreams, choices, and personal growth. Themes of sisterhood, love, ambition, societal expectations, and creative fulfillment resonate in every scene. The story remains faithful to Alcott’s spirit while infusing contemporary sensibilities and a subtle feminist lens.
Cinematography, Music, and Design
The film’s cinematography captures both the warmth of domestic interiors and the grandeur of the outside world with painterly precision. Alexandre Desplat’s score accentuates the emotional highs and lows without overwhelming the narrative. Jacqueline Durran’s costume design is meticulous, reflecting character development and the passage of time. Every frame feels curated, creating an immersive and elegant cinematic experience.
Emotional Impact
Little Women is more than a period drama; it is an exploration of dreams, choices, and relationships that transcends time. It celebrates resilience, familial bonds, and the courage to pursue passions despite societal constraints. One leaves the theater with laughter, tears, and a lingering warmth in the heart.
Final Thoughts
This movie should have won at least one Oscar — perhaps for Saoirse Ronan — but that’s just me! Little Women is a masterpiece of storytelling, performance, and visual poetry. If you want to uplift your mood, go watch it. And savor every moment of its quiet brilliance.
Comments
And all of the above is very true and
I too see it in the same perspective
It's a poem with it's meaning hiding beneath it. When you start reading the first word , you see one emotion and
as you go they spill out more and more
With some you make connections with and bring back home.
This movie has definitely given me tools into how I want to structure it.
I see it as their own small world with
and they are living small stories
which makes it better because there isn't a main character to focus on but each story makes each character as strong as the rest and together they or on the same page
In some ways personally , it is like watching myself when I watch Jo in all aspects and in that way all of us have that one character from this story to tie strings with and when you do , it's like watching yourself in a movie that you have been playing in your head for years.
Great movie and a great book