Little Women

Anyone who saw Lady Bird could have guessed that Greta Gerwig would be good at family relationships, women together, when she came to make Little Women. But nothing prepared me for the love, warmth and sheer intelligence of this film. It is, as the critics suggest, a total scandal that this isn’t making the running in the big awards. The way Gerwig has soaked herself not only in the book, but in Louisa M.Alcott’s own story, is so clever, and the energy, life and conviction of the girls is totally infectious. It’s not just “Oh look, Jo’s going to be a writer”; it’s Jo and Amy, with all the ferocity of true sisterhood - stunningly acted by Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh. But it’s not just that, either. There’s the director-type things , for which blokes are regularly praised - like vivid movement (Jo running through the street, a ball to rival any of the Austen films), but also thoughtful, memorable still pictures, when we just sit and look at the screen, taking it in. This is, you will gather, a really special film. Catch it while you can.