The classic novel "Little Women" has been adapted to the big and small screens several times. What's new in this remake in 2019? In addition to sweet tea ( Timothee Chalamet ), of course there are other things to watch. Greta Gerwig's version changes the portrayal of several of the film's heroines, making them more modern-feminine in their decisions, rather than simply "happy endings." That is to make the choices of each of them more rational and more logical. At the same time, it has also created completely different women, so that more female audiences can find resonance, rather than just highlighting Jo alone.
The original story tells that the heroine Jo and the sisters each have different ideals and beliefs, and therefore choose different lives. But in the old version, Jo is the protagonist in most of them, and the other sisters are relatively simple and rough, and they tend to make Jo more intelligent, as if only her choice was right. This is because Jo is the incarnation of the original author himself. Naturally, in her eyes, her pursuit of career and perseverance in marriage appear more modern and brave, while the sisters are conservative and stupid.
But this is not the case in the new version. The director has done a very thorough, objective, and unbiased portrayal of different women and explained why they made different choices.
For example, Meg, who chose true love and is willing to be a housewife, and Amy, who always lived in the shadow of her sister and eventually married Laurie, have increased their roles in the film. The director spent more time showing how these two characters were different from Jo, letting the audience know that their choices weren't wrong, it was just that they wanted a different life from Jo's.
Especially Amy in the new version is a lot more mature than the wayward sister in the old version. The audience can see the growth of this girl, the differences between her before and after, and many of the things she says are actually more mature, thoughtful, and the one who knows exactly what she wants than the other sisters. So surprisingly, my favorite in this movie is not Jo, but Amy, who is Florence Pugh. Her combination with Laurie also makes more sense than the old version.
It's Jo, I don't think the new version is as smart and flawless as the Vinola Reed version, but a very naughty, wild, swinging girl who has flaws, and she's aware of her flaws. This imperfection is actually more real. What's particularly evident in the film is that Jo is more masculine, while Laurie is more feminine, to show that the boundaries between men and women are not so sharp.
In addition, the sequence of narration in the film is also different from the old version, disrupting the chronological order, starting with the sisters leaving home and heading for their own future, then interspersed with memories to explain how they made these choices, and finally telling the audience their choices. what does it mean.
Of course, the biggest change in the film is Jo's ending. The old version of "Little Women" was most criticized for her insistence on not marrying, but she soon decided to marry a professor she met in New York. This ending makes many female readers feel that it is too hasty and perfunctory. In the new version, the director left Jo an open ending, giving her more choices, and explaining why in that era, the ending of the story would be different from modern times.
Whether or not to get married, when to get married, and who to marry are still important topics in the film, but if the old version mainly wanted women not to give up their pursuits and careers in order to get married, the new version makes women even more attractive. Realize: Every woman's life, personality and pursuit are different, and there is no need to judge in general terms. If you have found true love, and your ideal is to be a good mother, there is nothing wrong with marrying and starting a family; if you want to improve yourself, so that you can marry someone richer and change your life, there is nothing wrong ; If you miss true love, miss wealth, it doesn't matter, you can still rely on yourself. In short, I think the new version gives a more inclusive idea than the old version, that is, it recognizes the diversity of life, and no one stipulates which choice is the happiest and most correct, but there are many paths to happiness.
The film's costume design, scene design and other aspects are also outstanding, and it will undoubtedly become the most gorgeous version of "Little Women". In particular, the rich neighbor Laurie played by Sweet Tea is the most eye-catching. Every outfit shows the nobility of the upper class, and he has the feel of a boy with patterns. I can guarantee that girls want his clothes more. The heroine Jo's outfit is more neutral, dominated by jackets, and has a wilder hairstyle, which contrasts with the ladylike outfits of Amy and Meg, showing the boyish side of her personality. At the same time, the film also uses clothing to present the diversity of women: whether it is a lady or a neutral dress, it is good for you, no one is more suitable.
Meryl Streep's aunt in the film tells the truth, although she is bitter and mean, but in fact the most practical person in the film, who contributed a lot of laughs in the film.
Although compared with other awards season works, the weakness of this film is that it is not outstanding in performance, but it is still possible to receive awards in terms of costume design, scene design and soundtrack. The film currently has a high score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, and most film critics have affirmed its adaptation to keep pace with the times, more respect for women's choices, and successfully created a variety of female characters.
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