Little Women (1994)

Director:

Gillian Armstrong

Writers (WGA):

Louisa May Alcott (novel)
Robin Swicord (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 diciembre 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Romance

Frase comercial:

The story that has Lived in our hearts For generations, Now comes to the screen For the holidays

Plot:

The March sisters live and grow in post-Civil War America.

Plot Keywords:

Mother Daughter Relationship | Imigrate Professor | Feminist | Christmas Carol | Period Drama

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 9 nominations

Comentarios de los usuarios:

Fantastic

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Winona Ryder	...	Jo March
Gabriel Byrne	...	Friedrich Bhaer
Trini Alvarado	...	Meg March
Samantha Mathis	...	Older Amy March
Kirsten Dunst	...	Younger Amy March
Claire Danes	...	Beth March
Christian Bale	...	Laurie
Eric Stoltz	...	John Brooke
John Neville	...	Mr. Laurence
Mary Wickes	...	Aunt March
Susan Sarandon	...	Mrs. Abigail "Marmee" March
Florence Patterson	...	Hannah
Robin Collins	...	Carriage Boy
Corrie Clark	...	Belle Gardiner
Rebecca Toolan	...	Mrs. Gardiner

También conocida como:

Mujercitas (Argentina) (Spain) [es]

Duración:

115 min

País:

USA

Idioma:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sonido:

Dolby SR | SDDS

Clasificación:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Austria:6 | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivialidades:

In the scene where Amy is reading to Aunt March from the Bible, the passage is Leviticus chapter 21, verse 23 through chapter 22, verse 1.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The opera which Jo and Frederick watch is Bizet's "Pearl Fishers", which was first performed in Paris in 1863. However, the opera was not performed in the U.S. until 1892, long after the action of the film.

Quotes:

[Jo has been to visit Aunt March to try and get money for a train ticket]
Marmee: 25? Can Aunt March spare this much?
Jo: I couldn't bear to ask.
[she takes off her hat, everyone gasps - she's got short hair]
Jo: I sold my hair.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game-On: (#3.2)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

LaFayette's Welcome

Fantastic

Mrs. March (Susan Sarandon) sits down on the floor during Christmas to read a letter and to light candles with her four children. Then they sit around the piano and play Christmas' songs. Outside is snowing as a beautiful music plays (Thomas Newman). And there's a lot of snow in "Little Women", but it is not a film about Christmas or snowy weathers; it is about five women and how each of them face that exhilarating journey called life.

The letter mentioned above comes from the girls' father, who is in War. At that time, daughters weren't used to say "dad"; "father", they called him. They gathered in a big room and shared their illusions: "It's not the same without the presents", Meg (Trini Alvarado) explained. "I'm desperate for drawing pencils", the little Amy (Kirsten Dust) said. "I wish I didn't have to work for great aunt March", Jo (Winona Ryder) complained.

Beth (Claire Danes), talented, quiet and always uninspiring, is asked: "What is your wish for Christmas?". "I would like the War to end so father could come home", she replies; and all of the daughters want that too. "They do have a nice piano", Beth adds, looking over the window where Laurie (Christian Bale) is playing. Laurie ("the captive" according to the girls) will be a dear friend of the family and the girls.

They will all play together in a secret society that writes articles and carries on plays; they will all listen to Jo's stories waiting for the newest chapter, they will all have a constant smile on their faces, because they are nice persons. The girls, for example, know that they're not classy, but it doesn't bother them. However, they need to be presented in society, and find a man that wants them.

A friend of Mrs. March comes one day and they're talking about the girls: "Meg needs to find a good man, she could; she has to attend to the events". Instantly, Jo runs down the stairs enthusiastically and tells something to her mom. Her friend interrupts: "And this one is getting wasted with so much reading". In fact, Jo is very intelligent and wise, destined for big things; and knows it and is proud of it.

One day she and Meg go to an event and Jo tries to hide from classy boys and finds Laurie. They laugh, they dance, and years later when Laurie goes to college, Jo tells him: "I wish you didn't have to go". They look at each other and you could swear they are in love, but they haven't even kissed. Again, years later, he asks her to marry him, and she rejects him generating misunderstanding in the family. Life doesn't always go as it is supposed to.

So Jo seeks for independence, going to New York, where she meets Friedrich (Gabriel Byrne), an old, humble German teacher. They both share the same interests, and he wishes to protect her. He advises her grandly about her story writing: "Write from life; from the deepness of your soul". When they first kiss, you can tell that Jo wants it, and you instantly feel bad for Laurie, because you think he is Jo's fate; but many of the girls' fate is betrayed and things don't always turn out right at the end of the road.

Tragedies and moments of great happiness follow in the life of the Marches; uncertainties and twists. Mrs. March tries to be the core she always was and keep the family together, and it is Susan Sarandon's task fulfilled in this great portrayal of hers. With very little words spoken and a bunch of understanding looks, we know her character is a woman we should admire and look up to.

Personally, I would also admire all of the girls, that fought for the life they wanted; restlessly. Trini Alvarado's Meg is determinedly confident in her decisions and not a quitter at all. Now look at 12-year-old Kirsten Dunst's Amy and 15-year-old Claire Danes' Beth, two performances that clearly show the gifted actresses they are now and what they will be. Same to be said of Christian Bale's Laurie.

But it is, without question, Jo's life that was a little more detailed in Luisa May Alcott's novel. However, screenwriter Robin Swicord adapted the story so it could look general and Gillian Armstrong directed it with no focus on any specified character in this wonderful, marvelous movie.

Nevertheless, it was Winona Ryder's name the only one before the film's title in the credits, and it was her performance the one that shocked everyone the most. The beautiful 23-year-old (she's still beautiful now) takes the responsibility of an adult and delivers an Oscar-caliber portrayal that will stay in my head for the rest of my life. Brilliant acting for an actress that still deserves an award she never got.

The Marches' life is not the happiest of all. They make mistakes, they fall short, they suffer; but don't we all?