Little Women are back with a new movie (now in Blu-Ray) & an audiobook starring Laura Dern

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Published on Saturday, 05 December 2020 13:10

Last Updated on 01 December 2020

Monica Costa

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Nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Greta Gerwig’s fresh, unique and modern adaptation of the timeless Louisa May Alcott masterpiece Little Women comes to Digital and Blu-ray™ and DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

The story

Writer-director Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) has crafted a Little Women that draws on both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott, and unfolds as the author’s alter ego, Jo March, reflects back and forth on her fictional life. In Gerwig’s take, the beloved story of the March sisters – four young women each determined to live life on their own terms – is both timeless and timely. Portraying Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth March, the film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, with Timothée Chalamet as their neighbour Laurie, Laura Dern as Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March.

Writer-director Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) has crafted a LITTLE WOMEN that draws on both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott, and unfolds as the author’s alter ego, Jo March, reflects back and forth on her fictional life. Gerwig’s take on the beloved story of the March sisters—four young women each determined to live life on their own terms—is both timeless and timely.

Portraying Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth March, the film stars Saoirse Ronan(Lady Bird), Emma Watson (Beauty and the Beast), Florence Pugh (Midsommar) and Eliza Scanlen (TV’s “Sharp Objects”), with Timothée Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name) as their neighbour Laurie, Chris Cooper (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) as Mr. Laurence, Laura Dern (Marriage Story and TV’s “Big Little Lies”) as Marmee and Meryl Streep (The Post) as Aunt March. LITTLE WOMEN is produced by Amy Pascal, Denise Di Novi and Robin Swicord, and is executive produced by Adam Merims, Evelyn O’Neill, Rachel O’Connor and Arnon Milchan.

LITTLE WOMEN has a runtime of approximately 135 minutes and is rated PG for some thematic elements and brief smoking. 

The trailer 

The verdict

The Blu-ray™, DVD and digital releases takes viewers even deeper into the beloved story of Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth with over 45 minutes of fascinating bonus features. Writer/Director Greta Gerwig show how they led this modern adaptation of a literary classic with a magnificent new cast, incredible art direction, elaborate costumes, set pieces and how she took inspiration from the real-life Orchard House where Louisa May Alcott lived and wrote LITTLE WOMEN.

 

I loved this new version of Little Women. I grew up with reading the novel and watching all previous movies based on the book. I had no expectations and thought it would be another version of the same story but I was pleasently surprised with its format. Instead of being chronological, it follows the memories of Jo and her sisters through the use of flashbacks.

I quite like it. I only wonder how easy it would be for a Little Women newbie to follow the story. The filmmakers clearly want to please fans of the March sisters with this adaptation. I personally believe that they have been successful in their pursuit. 

London Mums’ rating: 8/10

 

BLU-RAY™, DVD AND DIGITAL* BONUS MATERIALS

• A New Generation of Little Women: The superb cast recreated the beloved world of the March family with realism, humor and vulnerability
• Making a Modern Classic: The film combines its modern elements—kinetic camerawork and overlapping dialogue—with the historically authentic bespoke costumes, sets and locations
• Greta Gerwig: Women Making Art: Go behind the camera with Writer/Director Greta Gerwig, discover her process and how she applied her own style to the story
• Hair & Make-Up Test Sequence: A lovely showcase featuring the outstanding costumes, hair and make-up crafted for the film
• Little Women Behind the Scenes: Take a quick look behind the scenes on the set of LITTLE WOMEN
• Orchard House, Home of Louisa May Alcott: Find out more about Louisa May Alcott and visit the real-life Orchard House in Concord, MA

A new audiobook of Little Women 

Audible Original has published a lovely audiobook starring two-time Academy Award nominee, four-time Golden Globe winner and Emmy winner  Laura Dern (Big Little Lies, Jurassic Park) as the main narrator. 

This dramatisation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved family classic about the four March sisters brings together a cast of perennial audio favourites including Suzanne Toren (narrator – Pulitzer Prize winner The Overstory by Richard Powers), Lauren Fortgang (narrator – I Thought It Was Just Me by Brené Brown), Allison Hiroto (narrator – 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami), Emily Bauer (narrator – The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin) and Carly Robins (Narrator – All the Lovely Pieces by J. M. Winchester), amongst others. 

The narration follows the novel faithfully. The quality of the audio is very good and makes it the perfect audiobook to listen to over the festive season.

Here’s a summary of the original story as narrated in this audiobook.

With their father away fighting in the American Civil War, the four March girls are facing a lean Christmas with their mother. But the sisters’ close bond and determination to make the best of things enables them to find happiness despite their hardships. As the years go by we follow their fortunes as they journey into womanhood. Meg the beauty, Jo the tomboy, shy Beth and precocious Amy will encounter adventure, hardship, joys and disappointments and learn to meet the challenges of life as they become independent and make their way in the world. While marriage and motherhood may beckon for the sisters, their most enduring love is always for each other. First published in 1868 and never out of print since, this iconic coming-of-age tale is a perennial favourite that has touched the hearts of generations of fans.