Mariella Hunt

Recently I (finally) saw the movie Little Women (2019). I know; when it comes to films, I’m horribly out of the loop. Books are more of my realm; I find my escapism between pages of novels, and I’ve always been that way. Many people have been bemused by this fact and struggled to understand it, but I digress.

While it isn’t completely true to the novel, and there are certainly flaws in some elements of the story, I found it a delight to watch. The music, for one, was excellently arranged. The dancing, and every scene with Laurie in it, and the cinematography were fantastic to me. Mind, I do not watch many movies, so I do not consider myself a very adequate movie critic.

I will say that, aside from Titanic and Theoden’s last scene in LOTR3, this is the only film that has managed to make me cry honest-to-goodness tears. The concept of four sisters enduring harsh times together—in the past and in the future—is simple enough that it creeps into the most basic and tender corners of the human soul.

What I really want to talk about, though, is the scene where Amy burns Jo’s manuscript. It’s a scene in the book, as well, but seeing it played out so excellently by these actresses, seeing Jo’s anguish when she realizes that her life’s work is lost to her, is heartbreaking. As a writer, Google Docs is my back-up plan, and tentative at best; there is always the chance that something might go haywire and my work will vanish for eternity.

Amy in the film is portrayed as a vain and jealous thing. When she admits that Jo cares nothing for her dresses, so she burned the manuscript instead, the only thing in the world that she cares about, that was a punch that I felt in my own gut. It is romantic to think about those days when novels and love letters were written with pen and ink, but I’m grateful on a practical level that flashdrives and backups exist.

I must also mention the scene where Jo does forgive Amy, but it only happens after Amy nearly loses her life in the frigid water while chasing after Jo and Laurie while they’re ice skating. To a writer who is truly devoted to their work, erasing that work from existence is about the lowest blow that you can manage. It is low, and it hurts, but since these two sisters do love one another, forgiveness is possible.

You can forgive, but of course it is difficult to forget. If I recall correctly, Jo is dejected and reluctant to take up writing again for a long time. She does not cave until Beth makes her promise to continue telling her stories, no matter what. If you’ve read the book or watched the movie, you’ll understand why Beth’s words held such significance, and why they compelled Jo to write again.

I wish I had seen more of Emma Watson, but I understand that with four sisters and four stories, there had to be a strategic way to write out the script. I chuckled during that scene in the attic when Emma is speaking like an Englishwoman, ‘speaking like herself,’ just for a few moments.

And of course, I think that Laurie is one of the best characters in the film; he dances like a dream, and his emotions are palpable as he finds himself confused between past and present. Also, I might have a crush on the poor guy.

I wish I’d seen the movie sooner, but I’m glad that I finally did. What are your opinions on the film? Which sister did you sympathize with most? What scenes do you believe will stick with you for the rest of your life?