Along with Charlies Dickens “A Christmas Carol”, Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel “Little Woman” is one of the most frequently adapted works of literature, and most of its adaptions to film are quite successful. It’s simply one of those rare easy books to make a good movie out of and can stay fresh no matter how many times it’s been adapted. For me, I was introduced to the source material through the 1994 movie version of “Little Woman”, and while I can’t argue if it’s the objective best, it’s the version I have the most fondness for, and the one I feel most like putting a spotlight on.
Set in Massachusetts, in the mid-19th-century, amidst the Civil War, we focus on a family of four siblings, collectively referred to as the March Sisters. As war wages, we see how these four young ladies live out their lives, and comfort each other through all the financial shortages, health struggles, growing pains, and romantic flings that arise from the changing times.
At the center of attention is "Jo", who’s the second eldest of the siblings, is on her own personal journey of independence, and aspires to be an author. She occasionally finds herself at odds with her loving mother, as well as her cranky Aunt March, and develops feelings for two men, one of them being an impulsive neighbor, and the other being her considerably older linguistic professor. In essence, this is one of those humble little “Slice of Life” stories, and when done right, the formula can be quite special. Life is interesting, it can be magical, it can be scary, it can be unpredictable, and above all else, it’s engaging.
Before I get lost in the details, let’s highlight the cast, all of whom are ingrained in my mind as the figure heads of these literary icons. Winona Ryder leads the charge as Jo, and it’s the role that garnered her first Oscar Nomination for Best Leading Actress. The year prior, she was nominated best supporting actress for “The Age of Innocents”, so this was the next big step in her career.
While not my absolute favorite character performance of hers, she certainly elevates the films warmth and charm with her presence. Typically, when I think of Winona Ryders memorable roles, I think of her acting with a “thousand-mile stare”, but in this film, her smile and jubilant personality is absolutely infectious, and can stand out. It’s also kind of amusing to see her play a Massachusetts girl in this film, only two years before she’d deliver another memorable portrayal of a Massachusetts girl in “The Crucible” … polar opposite characters but highlights the range in Ryder’s acting.
Not to be overlooked is Claire Danes, who before her more famous roles in “Romeo & Juliet” and “Stardust”, made her film debut here as the third sister "Beth".
Her character arguably has the most emotional baggage, as she battles scarlet fever, yet still maintains a sweet demeaner. Susan Sarandon is both dignified and charming as the family mother, and Trini Alvarado played the eldest sister Meg. A young Christian Bale is the love-struck neighbor named “Laurie”, and it’s always fun to see him in his pre- “American Psycho” years. Gabriel Byrne is also good as professor Bhaer, who eventually develops romantic feelings for Winona Ryders character Jo. Truthfully, even with the two acknowledging their gap in age, I never quite got on board with their romance … although the actors do a convincing job making their feelings genuine. The cast as a whole have wonderful chemistry with each other, and it feels like everyone just had a great time making this.
Of course, I can’t forget Kirsten Dunst, who was riding the high of her breakout performance in “Interview with a Vampire” and plays the youngest of the March sisters named Amy. Once again, she owns every scene she’s in with her delightful and lively charisma. Regretfully, she's only in the first half, as her character grows up, with Samantha Mathis playing her seventeen-year-old appearance in the second half of the film. I’ve actually enjoyed Samantha Mathis in a number of roles, playing Princess Daisy in the “Super Mario Bros. Movie” and voicing Crista in “FernGully: The Last Rainforest”, but for whatever reason, I didn't care for her older portrayal of Amy in this film. She isn’t bad, but I never once believed she was an older version of the same character who Kristen Dunst brought to life with so much personality.
My only other reservation with this film is its “time transitions”, as the segues between events aren’t always the smoothest, and some events happen off-screen, forcing the audience to play catch-up. Thankfully, most of the sequences work great on their own. Without going into specific details, there’s a moment with a family member on their death bead, and it’s a perfectly constructed sequence. The scene starts off rather comedically, then gradually gets more sympathetic, and through brilliant direction … a character looking out a window with a ragging storm outside is our only clue that someone is about to pass away … it's very effective. The great Gillian Armstrong directed the picture and really stuck the landing where it mattered.
The score was composed by Thomas Newman, who’s credentials are too high to recount, so for simplicities sake, he’s a great composer, and his music for “Little Woman” garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score. The film also had one last nomination at the Oscars for Best Costume Design. Most important of all, this film manages a perfect tone that balances its sentimental moments with touches of the dramatic, and it never goes too far with either. The film already had a winning “slice of life” template to work with, and getting the tone right was crucial, otherwise the final product could risk being overly sentimental or too melo-dramatic.
While the film can be labeled as a character Drama, and has its share of emotional punches, the experience is still quite uplifting and works as a cozy family film. I suppose it can also pass as a “Christmas movie” of sorts. The film opens on Christmas, and the holiday comes back a second time before a four-year time-jump. I don’t view this as a traditional Christmas movie exactly, but it’s a good one to watch during December post-Christmas, in which the feelings of the holiday are still in the air, just not the center of attention.
When I first saw this movie, I was a young middle school kid, and a film about four sisters comforting each other during their daily lives was the last thing I wanted to experience at the time … and yet, through the film’s simplistic charms, it somehow won me over. I’d say I appreciate the movie more than I actually love it, as I don’t re-watch it often. With that said, it’s nice to have as an option, and whenever I do watch it, the film still leaves me feeling just as delighted and optimistic as ever. It’s charming without feeling manipulative, the cast is wonderful, and it’s one of those simple experiences that's just plain good for the heart. If you’re unfamiliar with the source material, I’d say this movie is a good starting place, as it may encourage you to either read the book, or view any of the other terrific film adaptations of this story.
Thanks for
reading my review of the 1994 adaption of “Little Woman” … and continue
to enjoy the movies you Love!
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