By Zoë Nelson

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard a lot about the new film adaptation of Little Women. Since the movie came out in December, I have already seen it twice. Something about this perfect mix of actors we know and love and the heartwarming late 1800’s coming-of-age novel by Louisa May Alcott, plus director Greta Gerwig, makes this a lovely movie to watch over and over again with family and friends. Even if you haven’t read the book (I haven’t), you will become obsessed with this movie and here’s why:

First of all, the casting of the film was flawless. The director, Greta Gerwig, has worked with both Saiorse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet before on Ladybird, so their chemistry on screen was already compatible. Chalamet played the moody male lead, Laurie, and Ronan conveyed the strong-willed, independent young woman Jo. These two made the film a perfectly complicated love story by itself, but adding Florence Pugh as Amy and Emma Watson (our very own Hermione) as Meg was the cherry on top. 

The plot of Little Women drew tears to my eyes every time I watched it, and I could tell that I wasn’t the only one in the theater sobbing. The book has received considerable praise over the last hundred years, and now I know why. But to avoid spoilers, all I am going to say about the storyline is that it emphasizes the love between sisters, growing up, difficult romance, and women’s roles in society. 

The scenery featured in this movie was probably my favorite part of the film adaptation. The book takes place in Concord, Massachusetts in the 1860s. The 2019 adaptation of Little Women is the only one to actually film in Massachusetts, Louisa May Alcott’s hometown. Filming locations included the Thayer Estate in Lancaster (about 50 miles away from Boston), The Louisa May Alcott Orchard House in Concord, the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, and 8 other historic locations in MA. 

Overall, please go take some friends and family to see this movie, and I promise that you will fall in love with the characters and beautiful scenery too. If you usually cry during sad movies, then you might want to bring some tissues, and plenty of popcorn. I hope that you will become as enthusiastic about this new movie as I am, and perhaps even be persuaded to read the book.