A LITTLE WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS
US, 2024, 84 minutes, Colour.
Jillian Murray, Trevor Donovan, Jen Lilley, Laura Osnes, Julia Reilly, Kyle Kupecky, Jesse Hutch, Brandon Clark, Gladys Knight.
Directed by Brandon Clark.
Louisa May Alcott’s 19th century story, Little Women, was a very American story, filmed many times since the 1930s. Here is an updated, 21st-century, version of the Little Women as adults. And, it is very American. This is a film for what is called Middle America, ordinary citizens and families in their millions between the two coasts, living in small towns. It joins the very many films and telemovies with Christmas themes.
We know that Jo March had literary talent. In this version, she has published many children’s books and is trying to move into the YA, Young Adult market. The editor wants her to do a rethink about her writing. But, she goes home to the town of Alcott, Tennessee, to join with her sisters and friends in celebrating Christmas.
We see the older sisters, Meg married with a daughter, her husband on overseas service. Beth is a music teacher but has been laid off because of restrictions on arts teachers. Amy has applied for a scholarship for an arts course in Chicago. Laurie is working locally and is attracted to Amy. So, happy Christmas together – though, there are some difficulties but sadness will be overcome.
And there is Fritz, an editor with the publishing company, told by the editors go to help Jo rediscover her talents and guide her. He does not reveal himself at first, Jo obviously, falling in love, then disillusioned, and then all kinds of possibilities, literary and romantic.
The American audience tends to have a very sweet tooth as regards their romances and Christmas films, where Australians might take one lump of sugar for tea or coffee, the Americans take two. And the sweetness of this Christmas film, tears and smiles, is very much two – which means that it might be too much for audiences who are wary of sentiment, let alone sentimentality.
The film has a religious dimension, the family churchgoers, emphasis on the Nativity story, Christmas carols – and a guest appearance by Gladys Knight in her late 70s, the famous singer from Gladys Knight and the Pips.