It was brave of Gerwig to take on a well known classic in her second directorial debut, but the success of Ladybird must have buoyed her to take the risk. This film unravels the book a bit, and puts it back together again in a series of movements between two time periods, which as the audience you kind of have to ride that wave with some faith, but it really works in the end. The essence of the March Sisters Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth is still very much in tact, with the siblings’ hearts and souls preserved in the right place. Jo is played by Saoirse Ronan (who is once again brilliant in yet a totally different role from Brooklyn or On Chesil Beach), who is a surrogate of sorts for Alcott herself. When we meet the strong-minded, career-focused tomboy, Jo is already seven years into the future—not residing at home but at a boarding house in New York, pursuing her dreams to become a novelist. We go back to find out where she is from and what made her who she is. The pace and the story telling will stay with you, whether you loved the book or never read it. No matter, this is a story well told.
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