I’d like to believe that films are representations of reality.
In one way or another, every screenplay draws inspiration from real-life experiences. It is through experience, favorable or not, that we grow as individuals. “Lady Bird” and “Little Women,” both great coming-of-age films, depict the struggle of young women transitioning to womanhood.
Putting the two side by side, you’ll see that every young woman will always have doubts once she’s in front of a crossroads. The difference between these films is that one was geared towards the relationships we maintain and build, while another was seeing life’s bigger picture.
Gerwig’s film, “Little Women,” is inspired by the book of the same name. It tells the stories of the March sisters and how their lives unfold until adulthood. In my opinion, this film is a statement on how women should be treated as equals with men in society. The film shows us what a woman is capable of and how someone’s sex isn’t a hindrance to that. You could see how they defy expectations by being more than what society pinned them out to be, because there’s so much strength in how the characters face the challenges that come their way.
In an interview with Today, Gerwig shared how the timeline of the film was different from the book’s since she wanted “to create an ache of what was already gone.”
The structure was beautifully executed because the impact that it had on people was exactly what Gerwig envisioned. It showed how much power the decisions we make had over what was constant in our lives.
In the same interview, Gerwig recalled how she identified with the March sisters because there was a time in her life in when she was made to choose between becoming a doctor or a lawyer even if her passion is theater. She even recalled a time when she remembered never understanding Amy’s character, for being so firm in what she believed or being too straightforward. Little did she know how much she would come to embrace the character as she grew older.
Gerwig’s adaptation also tackled some of the many challenges women face to this day. People still believe that a woman isn’t worth anything but a trophy to a man. This was addressed with Jo’s outburst where she stresses how she’s sick of hearing that love is the only thing a woman is good for.
Up to this day, women are still believed to be inferiors. Many would assume their work is not as good as a man’s. In an interview about “Lady Bird,” Gerwig shared how she gets frustrated with how women aren’t recognized enough in the film industry. “Why aren’t they there?” she asked. This is what encouraged her to make more films about the lives of women, which she said the film industry was short of.
There’s not much diversity when it comes to the stories of women. Unlike men, women lack representation in media. We are usually identified as someone’s wife, partner or daughter, almost never our own person.
Gerwig’s vision and drive are what allows her to continue to make a stand for women in the film industry. Some might even call her an auteur. There’s so much to be done in order to help more women gain the respect and credit they deserve, but Gerwig (is one of the many women) who has paved the way for more women to share their stories on the big screen.
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Art by Tricia Guevarra
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