Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women

Befitting such a beloved figure in American literature, this wonderful documentary approaches the biography of Louisa May Alcott (1832–88) with a lively enthusiasm that matches the subject's unremittingly exuberant personality. Originally broadcast on PBS in December 2009, this American Masters production combines dramatic re-enactments with talking-head interviews—a risky strategy that works in this case in part because the celebrated author of Little Women was a meticulous journal keeper who drew strong parallels between her own life and the lives of her much-loved fictional characters. With an abundance of personal documents and firsthand accounts to draw from, producer-screenwriter Harriet Reisen (whose identically-titled biography of Alcott was published this past October to wide acclaim) and producer-director Nancy Porter serve up a compelling profile, moving from Alcott's enlightened childhood as the daughter of Transcendentalist writer and educator Bronson Alcott to her struggles to achieve financial independence and her ultimate success as one of the most prolific and admired creators of juvenile fiction. Naturally, the 1868 publication of Little Women looms large in the narrative; heavily autobiographical, the story of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March brought Alcott great wealth and international acclaim, while the book's enduring appeal had a major influence on such well-known authors as Ayn Rand, Gloria Steinem, and J.K. Rowling. However, Alcott's life before and after Little Women was equally fascinating, as viewers will discover in this finely-tuned portrait of the artist that deftly balances docudrama, scholarly insight, and even some striking animated segments. In the dramatizations, Elizabeth Marvel captures Louisa's spirit with grace and humor; Daniel Gerroll plays Bronson with a wealth of paternal affection; and Jane Alexander portrays Alcott's official biographer, Ednah Cheney, with appropriate reverence and authority. What emerges from this amalgam of techniques is a living, breathing appreciation of Alcott as a child raised in the company of literary greats (Thoreau and Emerson were neighbors and mentors), who would grow up to become a proto-feminist fiercely determined to make her place in a world that favored men. Although tragedy ultimately looms (Alcott slowly succumbed to the effects of mercury poisoning, and was believed to have suffered from lupus), the bulk of Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women deals with a strong-willed and passionately inquisitive individual who deliberately focused on juvenile fiction as a lucrative career choice while writing much darker works of pulp fiction under a pseudonym (A.M. Barnard) that remained secret until long after her death. An unconventional and inspiring biography, this entertaining film is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Shannon)