For the first Be Reel of 2020, Noah and Chance visit the March family in their seventh turn on the big screen. With a new structure and perhaps all-time best cast, Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” feels revisionist and affectionate toward the 1868 story all at once. Then, in search of more context, we review the “Little Women” of 1994 and 1949. From these films, we discuss the Jo March of Winona Ryder and the Amy of Elizabeth Taylor while observing these adaptations sort out their own era-driven versions of the classic American novel.

Be Reel is brought to you by California College of the Arts‘ Writing MFA program. Learn more at CCA.edu/writingmfa.