Little Women
2019 · Directed by Greta Gerwig
Original language: English
- drama
- romance
The story
Four sisters come of age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War.
What it’s like
Warm, sun-washed interiors and soft window light give this one its feel: golden afternoons in cluttered New England parlours, candlelit Christmas evenings, and the cool, grey-green wash of winter streets. Gerwig moves between two timelines with quick cuts and sudden shifts in colour grading, so the past glows amber while the present looks cooler and more adult. Handheld camera stays close to the four sisters at their tables and bedsides, and the frame often crowds them together, making the house feel lived-in and noisy. Alexandre Desplat's score is lush but unhurried, with piano and strings that swell at the sisters' small triumphs and ache at their losses. The vibe is bittersweet and affectionate, with humour threaded through grief, the kind of film you watch on a rainy Sunday with a blanket and a mug of something hot. Pacing is brisk and talky, with overlapping dialogue and little sense of waiting. Its emotional arcs follow sisters pulling against each other and against the expectations of marriage and money, slowly finding their own shape. Intensity is low: there is no on-screen violence, only brief talk of illness and death, and romance stays chaste and gentle. It suits viewers who want heartfelt, character-led period drama with warmth and wit.
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