It’s here! Although we still have to wait a couple months, the highly anticipated new Greta Gerwig project, Little Women, is finally coming to the big screen! With this new generational wave of actors gracing our screens, as well as this fourth wave feminism era we have entered, this movie couldn’t have come at a better time. This film is a remake of the 1994 film Little Women, which has been remade about four other times, based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel of the same name.
On Aug. 13, Timothée Chalamet dropped the trailer on Twitter and Instagram and everyone went crazy, not only because Chalamet hadn’t graced us with a tweet since July, but also because of this star-studded cast. This film stars big names like Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep and Laura Dern. Little Women follows the story of the March sisters and their lives in New England after the Civil War. This film explores the challenges of a woman’s ambition in a sexist society, a story that is all too familiar today. Although the 1994 film was extraordinary, there are many aspects that hopefully are expanding and explored within this remake that mirror the 2019 aesthetic socially and politically while keeping true to its time.
1. More Beth
Beth is a vital character in the sense that she has qualities that instill emotions of passion, love and hope amongst her sisters that I hope is explored more within this remake. Although her character doesn’t seem to have a specific goal or dream, according to the 1994 version, her influence clearly drives the main character’s, Jo March, narrative. Speaking of Jo March, AHHHH SAOIRSE RONAN! Thank you, Greta Gerwig, for bringing Saoirse and Timothée back together!
2. Laurie and Amy’s Relationship
Although it isn’t seen very clear in the trailer, Laurie and Amy soon develop a relationship and hopefully that it is explored in more than two scenes. Although I understand this story is from the perspective of Jo March, it would be nice to learn more about the impact Laurie made in terms of loving both her and her sisters.
3. Aunt March
Aunt March isn’t really seen much in the 1994 film, but hopefully her character is understood and developed more in terms of the impact she made on, not only Jo March, but Amy and Meg as well. Hopefully we get to see the intimate time Amy spends with Aunt March in Europe and, according to the trailer, it looks like we might. Plus, who doesn’t want to see Meryl Streep on screen?
4. Meg and Jo’s Relationship
I hope they explore Meg and Jo’s relationship just as well as they did in the novel and 1994 film. Emma Watson and Saoirse Ronan as sisters—I literally have no words. I LOVE IT! Also, it’s good to see Watson coming back to the big screen on a mainstream level since Beauty and the Beast.
The rest of the world and I are pumped for this film and it may look as though it will get some Oscar buzz. With so many talented people on- and off-screen, it has to. Writer of Alias Grace, Sarah Polley, will be joining Gerwig with the film under Columbia Pictures. Not to mention the hype and fandom around the film is wild. So, if you’ve been living under a rock and don’t know about this film, you do now and it’s clear that it’s a must see!