Little Women (2019) is one of my favorite films of all time. It is an adaptation of the book written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott in 1869. The film was directed by Greta Gerwig, whom you may know as the director of Barbie (2023). It features famous actors like Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet, and Meryl Streep.
The story follows four sisters from their childhood to adulthood and their journey of self-discovery. The main themes of the film are passion, friendship, love, and feminism. There are many, many things I love about the story. Firstly, the relationship between the sisters—they are like the different colors of a rainbow, and I find a piece of myself in each of them. Also, the period in which the story takes place, the 19th century is just so aesthetic and beautiful... The fashion, the balls and the ball gowns, the aesthetic of both the countryside and the city, AND the rise of feminism. Art, money, and independent, passionate women... What to ask more?
With the film jumping between two different timelines, it can be quite challenging to follow at first. But as the story unravels, it feels like the pieces of a puzzle falling into place. You leave the film feeling hugged but also punched in the face—ready to take action. Just the kind of movie you’d watch over and over again, noticing something new each time.
Well... that’s what I call a truly great film!
