Little Women (2019)
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The film follows the lives and artistic ambitions of the four March sisters as they navigate sisterhood, love, and independence in 19th-century America.
The story
Set in the 19th century, the film follows the lives of the March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they navigate life in Concord, Massachusetts. The narrative weaves between the sisters' past and present, focusing on Jo's journey as a writer and the evolving relationships between the sisters and their neighbors. As Jo struggles to find her voice as a writer and the sisters face the challenges of growing up, the story explores their individual paths toward independence and the enduring bond of family.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows the March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—across different periods of their lives. In the past, the girls navigate childhood milestones, including a daring rescue on a frozen lake and the onset of Beth's illness. In the present, Jo works as a teacher in New York, struggling with her identity as a writer while her sisters face their own milestones: Meg is married to John Brooke, and Amy is in Paris with Aunt March. The narrative explores their relationships with neighbors Laurie and Fred Vaughn. As the story progresses, Beth passes away, and the sisters navigate their paths toward adulthood. Jo eventually publishes her novel, 'Little Women,' and establishes a school where the sisters and their loved ones teach together, celebrating their shared history and individual triumphs.
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 135
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Greta Gerwig
- Writers
- Greta Gerwig · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Saoirse Ronan · Jo March; Emma Watson · Amy; Florence Pugh · Amy; Eliza Scanlen · Beth; Laura Dern · Marmee; Timothée Chalamet · Laurie; Tracy Letts · Mr. Laurence; Bob Odenkirk · Mr. Dashwood; James Norton · John Brooke; Louis Garrel · Fred Vaughn; Chris Cooper · Mr. Laurence; Meryl Streep · Aunt March
- Genres
- period drama; coming-of-age; historical drama; romance
- Themes
- sisterhood; artistic ambition; coming of age; family bonds
- Tone and mood
- nostalgic; sentimental
- Premise and plot tags
- period piece; literary adaptation; ensemble cast
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1868 novel by Louisa May Alcott
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim, particularly for Greta Gerwig's direction and screenplay, and the performances of the ensemble cast.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 91 · scale: 100 · review count: 57; PostTrak · score: 5 · scale: 5
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Costume Design · win; Critics' Choice Award · Best Adapted Screenplay · win
- Production trivia
- The film is the seventh adaptation of the 1868 novel.; The film was the second one Greta Gerwig solely directed.; The film was intended for a release in China but was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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This film adapts Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Check the adaptation reference.
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