Drama

Little Women

Main Dog Productions

Escapology

Paulist Productions

Universal Pictures

United States of America

English

Sarah Davenport

Melanie Stone

Allie Jennings

Taylor Murphy

Lea Thompson

Lucas Grabeel

Ian Bohen

Bart Johnson

Adam Johnson

Michael Flynn

Joel Michaely

Stuart Edge

Elise Jones

Reese Oliveira

James Rocco Celeste

Barta Heiner

Aimee Lynne Johnson

Claire Covey

Paris Warner

Madeline Thatcher

Chris Clark

Mark Niederpruem

Jake Suazo

Orlando Seale

Shelly Townsend

Brad Johnson

Isabella Jarque

Kiana Bretschneider

Lisa Valentine Clark

Tanycia Bretschneider

Emily Jacobson

Lauren Spalding

Nate Hoffman

Anka Malatynska

Brent Geisler

Marybeth Sprows

Chris Donahue

Maclain Nelson

Melissa Cannon

Inger Labrum

Kristi Shimek

Stephen Shimek

David M. Wulf

Austin Patrick McBride

Montana Peterson

Rebecca Santa Cruz

Tino Santa Cruz

Cynthia Coury Lagow

Ron Brough

Brooke Brough

Rafe Moran

Trinity Jordan

Evan Lai-Hipp

Lindsey Watson

Stephanie Ollerton

Jimmy Bush

Danny James

Ryan Ricks

Preston Lewis

Landon Hill

Casey Robertson

Terry Prather

Katie Carlson

Peter Weiland

Jason Ball

Mike Law

Jacamo Wiren

A.J. Beer

Kevin Kennedy

Tony Ballew

Hector Miranda

Sam Blazejewski

Marlon Gaines

Ben Polas

Emily McLean

Rachel Clark

Cynthia Shelley

Michaela Fordham

Alexa Lambert

Anna Peabody

Bruce Wing

Keston Wing

Kurt Knight

Larissa Beck

Kami Knight

Joe Sanchez

Jared Jaynes

Chuck Roundy

Ryan Roundy

Steve Schimek

China Khoral

Yuri Pridachin

Pavel Mikhaylov

Dmitri Zharov

Kyle Lane

Kevin D. Brown

Fred Paragano

Terry Rodman

Brittany Ellis

Scot Peeples

Richard Garibaldi

Tobias Rogers

Clare Niederpruem

Robert Allen Elliott

Seth Yanklewitz

Louisa May Alcott

Filipe Manuel Neto

**A different version of the usual story. Maybe less memorable, but different.**

Louisa May Alcott's classic novel has received several film and TV adaptations over the decades. Some are more significant than others, and this is definitely one of the smallest, but perhaps the most creative I've seen, opting to give us an updated, refreshed version of the story as always. At a time when literary classics are treated as “sacred cows” by cinema purists (at the same time that, paradoxically, “politically correct” versions of the books are presented, without the expressions and words that the authors wrote, but which we don't like it), it's innovative and courageous to do something different, even if it's a weaker work.

Like many people who do not speak English as their native language, I have never read the original book, nor found a well-written Portuguese translation, respectful of the original source. So, I'll stick to the film. It's quite good at giving us an airy version of the story we've already seen, and it's certainly a labor of love for everyone involved. Certain things worked well, others were not believable (particularly the imaginative play of the sisters, who spend time playing games that are very childish for their age), but the essentials – the unity between sisters and the way they face different difficulties – remain untouched.

Directed by Clare Niederpruem, the film is not exceptional and has a TV flavor, as if it had been designed for a direct-to-DVD version or for the television market, not for the big screen. However, it gives us decent cinematography and regular production values, considering it didn't have the biggest budget. The dialogues are well written, and the film does not waste too much time on irrelevant things, even though the levels of sugary melodrama are high and make the film a somewhat sweet experience, which will not please everyone. The ending is anti-climactic.

In addition to the opportunity to see a different version of the story, the film seriously relies on a very female cast, with much more commitment and energy than skill. The sisters are assured by Sarah Davenport, Melanie Stone, Allie Jennings and Taylor Murphy. They are all promising young people who have much more desire and energy than talent, they are still learning the dramatic art. There are still a few other actors around here who will make some high marks, namely Lea Thompson and Michael Flynn, but it's safe to say that each of them is trying to take advantage of the opportunity to improve as much as possible in their art and skill, and that this film will not be the masterpiece of anyone involved.

Little Women: A Modern Retelling Official Trailer

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Sarah Davenport

Melanie Stone

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Taylor Murphy

Lea Thompson

Lucas Grabeel

Ian Bohen

Bart Johnson

Adam Johnson

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