Little Women (1994 film)
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Little Women is the 1994 film version of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel, Little Women adapted by Robin Swicord and directed by Gillian Armstrong. It stars Susan Sarandon as Marmee March, Winona Ryder as Josephine 'Jo' March, Claire Danes as Beth March, Kirsten Dunst as Younger Amy March, and Christian Bale as Theodore 'Laurie' Laurence.

The film was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Actress in a Leading Role for Winona Ryder, Best Costume Design, and Best Music, Original Score for composer Thomas Newman.

Plot summary

The movie follows the March sisters, Meg (16), Jo (15), Beth (13) and Amy (12), as they grow up during and after the American Civil War. The family is faced with major and minor problems that they confront head on sharing laughter, tears, and some awkward moments. With their father away fighting in the Civil War, the girls are led by their strong-willed mother whom they affectionately call Marmee. One of the ways the girls find to deal with all that is going on is to create their own attic theater company, the Pickwick Society, where they write and perform in their own plays (especially Jo who is the central figure in organizing and writing the skits).

A lime becomes a rare and precious commodity that also serves as a lesson to the youngest, Amy, who succumbs to her moral values and goes with her family to deliver their Christmas meal with a family even less fortunate than their own. It is this selfless compassion that leads to tragedy for one of the girls, Beth. The sisters have their tiffs, especially Jo, upon whom the story mostly revolves.

Next door to them is a wealthy elderly man named Mr. Laurence, who at first keeps his distance from the March family. When his grandson Theodore (nicknamed "Laurie") moves in with him, Laurie becomes the girls' friend. One of the girls' favorite diversions is acting out Jo's many spirited plays - highly unrealistic and romantic, so they perform in secret. Jo invites Laurie to join their troupe, and he donates a mail-box as a peace offering. Over time, Mr. Laurence also becomes a kind friend, especially toward Beth, who plays the piano exquisitely and reminds him of his late daughter.

Jo accidentally holds the curling iron in Meg's hair too long, burning the piece right off before a fancy ball. Meg falls in love with Laurie's tutor, John Brooke, causing Jo to realize their childhood is coming to an end. When Beth comes down with scarlet fever, Amy, who, unlike her sisters, never had the sickness, is sent away to live with grumpy wealthy old Aunt March. Laurie, who accompanies her on the trip, vows to come and take Amy away if Aunt March is unkind to her; he also promises to kiss her before she dies, in response to one of her romantic/pathetic speeches.

Prior to Beth's illness, Jo had been Aunt March's companion for years and hated every minute of it; the only reason she continued was knowing that one day Aunt March would go to Europe and would have to take Jo with her. Amy, as the sister most obsessed with money and good-looks, thrives as Aunt March's new companion.

 

Christian Bale as Laurie and Winona Ryder as Jo

As the girls grow up, they learn in their own time about life, loss, and most importantly, love. When their father gets hurt in the war and Marmee can't afford a train ticket, Jo sells off her hair to a wig shop to pay for it causing the entire family to be in shock, and Jo to later have a heart warming scene crying over the loss. Mr. March finally returns home just in time for Christmas. Four years pass before Meg and John Brooke are married, meanwhile, Beth's health is growing steadily worse. Laurie graduates from college and admits his love for Jo, begging her to marry him and go away to London with him. Jo realizes, however, that she could never love Laurie more than as a wonderful big brother, so she refuses him. Heartbroken, Laurie flees to England.

Jo later deals with the added disappointment that Aunt March has decided to take Amy, who is now sixteen, with her to Europe instead. Crushed, she resolves to leave Concord for New York City to pursue her dream of writing and experiencing life. She meets Friedrich Bhaer, a German professor who lives at the boarding house where she stays. Friedrich challenges and stimulates Jo intellectually, introducing her to opera and philosophy, and spurs her to become an even better writer.

The trip to Europe serves Amy well: she improves her painting and runs into her old childhood friend, Laurie. Finding that he has become dissolute and irresponsible, Amy censures him and refuses to having anything more to do with him until he pulls himself together. The two become close and to everyone's shock - especially Jo's - return home married. Although she bears no hard feelings over the marriage, Jo admits to being momentarily shaken as Laurie walks into the March home with her sister Amy as his new bride. This leads Jo to fear that she will never find love and will die alone. In more heartache in her drama-filled life, Jo rushes home to Beth, who finally succumbs to the lingering effects of the scarlet fever she suffered from for the past four years. Grieving for her sister, Jo retreats to the safety of her writing garret in the attic and begins to write out her life story. By morning she is finished, and sends it off to be published.

Meanwhile, a letter from Amy, who has returned to Europe with Laurie, informs the family that Aunt March is bedridden and would not surivive a sea voyage; Amy is recruited to stay with her ailing aunt. When Aunt March dies, she leaves Jo her home of Plumfield. Jo soon comes up with the idea of making it a school. In the meantime, Meg gives birth to twins John "Demi" and Daisy. Hannah remains at home with the family, and when Jo returns from the garden one day, she finds her published manuscript, that has now been titled "Little Women". Hannah reveals that Freiderich brought it, and Jo rushes to find him, his umbrella in hand.

She finds Friederich at the end of the March's driveway, and thanks him for her book. At that moment, Friederich proposes and Jo accepts. The film ends with the two lovers kissing in the rain.

Academy Awards
Nominations:

1995 - Best Actress in a Leading Role - Winona Ryder
1995 - Best Costume Design
1995 - Best Music, Original Score - Thomas Newman

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