Each year, more than 100,000 people visit Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House. This December 25th, millions more will have the chance to learn about Louisa May and her amazing family through the lens of Sony Picture’s newest presentation of the classic book Little Women.
In a recent interview, Jan Turnquist, Executive Director of the Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, told us that the film’s director, Greta Gerwig, was passionate about getting the details of Little Women right. She visited Orchard House three times before bringing the cast to tour and learn about the Alcotts.
“They truly cared about understanding the real family that inspired the book,” said Ms. Turnquist, who consulted extensively with the film. “They did so much to tie Orchard House to the film and to showcase the brilliant humanity of the Alcotts.”
Much of the movie was filmed right here in Concord. Although the filmmakers had hoped to film inside of Orchard House itself, the ambient sounds of modern-day life such as cars and airplanes (and the delicate nature of the many antique and original pieces inside the house) made that impossible. Nonplussed, the crew recreated Orchard House in its entirety on private land in Concord, with remarkable likeness!
Jan went on to say how lovely the cast and crew were to work with. “It was such a joyful experience to have them at Orchard House and to be able to share all we know about the Alcotts. Its why Orchard House exists – we want to share the real people behind Little Women,” Jan told us.
Although written 150 years ago, Little Women still speaks to us today. In Ms. Gerwig’s new film, the beloved story of the March sisters – four young women each determined to live life on her own terms – is both timeless and timely. Portraying Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth March, the film’s stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, with Timothée Chalamet as their neighbor Laurie, Laura Dern as Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March will let us fall in love, once again, with these remarkable women.