Little Women Makes Big Waves

Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the classic novel has been critically acclaimed – yet she was snubbed at the Oscars

- Lindsay De Freitas

It's been a tried-and-tested favourite for years: the heartwarming – and at times heartrending – tale of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy as they navigate their way from adolescence to adulthood.

Filmmakers, TV producers and theatre directors love it too – ensuring it’s made its charming way to screen and stage countless times over the years.

So in the weeks before the release of the new movie version of Little Women, film buffs asked: did the world really need another adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s famous 1869 novel?

It seems it does. The film has been packing cinemas ever since its Christmas Day opening, earning rave reviews and plenty of award nominations for director Greta Gerwig (36).

So successful has it been, in fact, that Greta is front and centre of the latest controversy about women directors being snubbed so often by the honchos who decide the winners during awards season.

Little Women was totally overlooked by the Golden Globes last month and didn’t receive a single nod. It fared far better at the Oscars with six nominations – but no best director acknowledgement for Greta.