The fourth screen adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic 1869 novel, LITTLE WOMEN, is given a realistic and rounded treatment by screenwriter Jo Swicord and Australian director Gillian Armstrong, whose perspective emphasizes a feminist tone. The story chronicles the lives of a mother and four daughters and their daily toils during the Civil War in the absence of their father, a Union army chaplain. Winona Ryder (in an Oscar-nominated performance) is vibrant as Jo, the least conventional of the sisters. Christian Bale captures the ebullience of their neighbor, Laurie, whose company Jo enjoys so much it seems inevitable that they will end up together. Kirsten Dunst (at age 12) gives a fiery performance as the younger Amy, proving even more willful than Jo; Claire Danes brings a mysterious otherworldliness to Beth. LITTLE WOMEN, touchingly rendered, has many subtle moments and an appropriately moving visual sense to accompany the narrative. Susan Sarandon and Gabriel Byrne also star in this well-crafted film. The characters live what the Scriptures teach regarding humility, modesty, kindness, friendship and forgiveness.

Actors: Christian Bale, Claire Danes, Eric Stoltz, Frances McDormand, Gabriel Byrne, Hatty Jones, Kirsten Dunst, Mary Wickes, Nigel Hawthorne, Samantha Mathis, Susan Sarandon, Trini Alvarado, Winona Ryder  
Format: AC-3, Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
Release Date: 04/25/2000
Region: Region 1 encoding (USA and Canada)
Run Time: 118 Minutes
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Distributed by: Provident-Integrity
UPC: 043396050440
CShopper ID: CSMOV0594