My response to 'Little Women's most recent film adaptation, written and directed by Greta Gerwig was, as it turns out deeply personal. This film in particular (even though I grew up adoring the 90s adaptation starring Winona Ryder as Jo) truly reminded me of the impact this story has had on my life and how, from a young age I have romanticized it's parallels with it's March family and my own New England family of teachers. Perhaps the film just feels closer to home as it was shot mostly all around Boston and my brother was even going to be an extra for a short time until they moved the filming to "too late at night" but, something about this film resonated with me...resonated to the point that, unlike with a lot of other recent film remakes of classic stories I don't mind thinking that his next generation of young people will have THIS as their Little Women from recent memory.

    My family was, in a sense, a Little Women moved into 1940s Maine (but, then again, who couldn't draw comparisons to these well rounded Americana legends). Teachers, curious thinkers, artists and musicians living in rural Maine, my father's side of the family, at least as embodied by my grandma Carolyn Tozier, were education seeking, playful and hard working folks. I will say, as gendered as this coming of age story is, even from its very title, I would extend the lessons in family, love and seeking your own fortune to anyone.

    Save yourself taking a Buzzfeed quiz....We are all a little Meg ; protective, caring, leading by example, choosing love over ambition sometimes. In each person there is a 'Jo' (Yes, I know we all sort of WANT to be Jo) a fighter, quick to anger, completely popular and likable, a trailblazer with a creative spark. (Coincidentally I always liked         Jo's short non gender specific name ; I think it's sort of why I prefer 'Kate' it's quick and to the point like her). We are each Beth ; quiet, happy with simple pleasures, musical, giving of ourselves to help others even when it's difficult. Lastly we all are Amy ; precocious, materialistic maybe but, wants to give her loved ones the best, artistic and competitive. I'm not trying to extrapolate that this is a Meyers-Briggs personality test by any means but, Alcott's characters are so fully fleshed out and distinct that you can tell these were based on real people. They feel real....which leads me to talking about Gerwig's movie, enough of the personal wax.

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    My main surprise about this film was it's quick almost live theatre-esque pacing. There were so many scenes of these girls talking at rapid fire almost David Mamet pace, overlapping, talking one right after the other. I enjoyed it because it felt like a play. It used it's silences and montages well, as movies do and didn't have too much brooding like so many recent adaptations of Wuthering Heights or Jane Austen. The scenes in the home FELT like a real family all laughing and referencing each others lives and telling jokes. Banter. I was told by someone before seeing the movie that it felt to them like a series of trailers which, yes definitely due to the constant time jumping and 'trailer esque' moments (such as Laurie announcing the four girls names to his friend on the beach and the camera flashing to each of their faces) it did. But, if it did let's say perhaps Gerwig intended those trailers to be...chapters and, like Jo does on the floor of her attic while writing her manuscript, Gerwig just rearranged them for you.