Little Big Women 2021

As the winter of 1868 descended upon New York City, Jo March, a dedicated teacher and aspiring writer, found herself at a crossroads. Her recent meeting with Mr. Dashwood, an esteemed editor, had brought her story to life, but his critical feedback on her work left her reeling. Meanwhile, back in Concord, Massachusetts, Jo’s youngest sister Amy was navigating the complexities of social etiquette in Paris, where she attended a lavish party alongside their childhood friend and neighbor Laurie (played by (actor name)). However, when Amy witnessed Laurie’s inebriated behavior, her anger boiled over, prompting him to lash out at her for spending time with the wealthy businessman Fred Vaughn.

As Jo struggled to come to terms with Friedrich Bhaer’s constructive criticism, she received devastating news from a letter - her younger sister Beth’s health had taken a turn for the worse. With a heavy heart, Jo returned home to Concord, reuniting with her family and confronting the harsh realities of their financial struggles. Seven years prior, in 1861, Jo had first met Laurie at a party attended by her older sister Meg, where they were joined by their mother, “Marmee,” who had instilled in them a sense of compassion and generosity.

On Christmas morning, Marmee encouraged the March sisters to share their meager breakfast with their impoverished neighbors, Mrs. Hummel and her children. Their selfless act was rewarded when they returned home to find a bounty of food waiting for them, courtesy of their neighbor and Laurie’s grandfather, Mr. Laurence. As the day wore on, Jo found solace in reading to Aunt March, hoping against hope that she would be invited to join them in Europe.

However, not all was well in the March household. A tense evening at the theater saw Amy’s jealousy get the better of her, resulting in the destruction of Jo’s precious writings. The next morning, Amy’s desperation for forgiveness led her to chase Jo and Laurie onto a frozen lake, where they worked together to rescue her after she fell through the ice. Meanwhile, Beth found an unlikely ally in Mr. Laurence, who recognized her quiet strength and invited her to play his daughter’s piano in his grand home.

As the sisters navigated their individual struggles, Meg confided in John Brooke, Laurie’s tutor, about her frustration with their poverty-stricken existence. Despite her best efforts, she felt like they were stuck in a rut, unable to move forward. In the midst of these challenges, Jo found herself at odds with Amy, who had grown increasingly resentful of always being second to her sister. Yet, even as Amy turned down Fred’s proposal, she couldn’t help but hold onto her feelings for Laurie, a sentiment that would continue to shape their complicated relationships in the years to come.

As the past and present converge, memories of yesteryear resurface like wisps of smoke carried on the breeze. In a poignant flashback, Mr. Laurence’s thoughtful gift of a piano to Beth is revealed, only for fate to cruelly snatch her away with the ravaging force of scarlet fever, courtesy of the Hummels’ unwary touch. Meanwhile, Amy is whisked away to Aunt March’s austere clutches, where she receives counsel on securing her family’s future through strategic marital alliances. John’s gentle urgings fall on deaf ears as Meg reveals her long-ago decision to divest herself of a precious fabric, now reimagined as a dress to bring joy to her beloved husband.

In the midst of this domestic tapestry, Beth’s fragile health falters, only to recover just in time for the warmth and camaraderie of Christmas celebrations. As the seasons pass, however, her condition takes a turn for the worse, leaving behind an irreparable void. In contrast, Meg’s joy is palpable as she prepares to exchange vows with John on the threshold of their new life together.

In a separate thread, Jo wrestles with her own doubts and aspirations, torn between her desire to create something meaningful – whether through art or literature – and her uncertainty about the role marriage might play in her future. The arrival of Amy from her European sojourn brings with it the somber news of Aunt March’s declining health, prompting Jo to reevaluate her decision to spurn Laurie’s proposal.

As fate would have it, Amy returns bearing the weight of Aunt March’s ailing state, while Jo finds herself consumed by the prospect of what might have been had she accepted Laurie’s offer. In a burst of creative energy, she pours her emotions onto the page, crafting a novel that chronicles the trials and tribulations of herself and her sisters.

However, Mr. Dashwood’s lackluster reception of her work sparks a crisis of confidence within Jo, leading her to rework the narrative to conform to his expectations – much to her own dismay. The unexpected appearance of Bhaer on the March doorstep, en route to California, sets in motion a chain of events that culminates in the publication of Jo’s magnum opus, Little Women.

As the curtain falls on this cinematic odyssey, Jo surveys the fruits of her labor – a school founded in Aunt March’s once-staid abode, where her beloved sisters and Bhaer join forces to impart their collective wisdom upon future generations.