When Greta Gerwig’s Little Women hit theaters in 2019, people expected the usual. You know the drill. A fusty, older German professor wagging his finger at Jo March for writing "trashy" stories. But then Louis Garrel walked onto the screen.
Honestly, it changed everything.
Instead of the "porky middle-aged German" described in Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, we got a tall, rumpled, and undeniably handsome Frenchman. It was a choice that divided book purists and left new fans swooning. People were basically asking: wait, is Professor Bhaer... hot now?
The Casting Choice Nobody Saw Coming
Casting Louis Garrel as Friedrich Bhaer was a total pivot. In previous versions, like the 1994 film, Gabriel Byrne played Bhaer as a paternal, steady presence. He was the "safe" choice for Jo after the heartbreak of Laurie.
Gerwig didn't want safe. She wanted a mirror for Jo.
Louis Garrel brings this specific, intellectual energy that’s common in French cinema but rare in Hollywood period dramas. He’s known for The Dreamers and A Faithful Man, movies where he often plays men caught between passion and logic. By putting him in Little Women, Gerwig transformed the Professor Bhaer dynamic from a teacher-student vibe into a relationship of equals.
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He's not just correcting her; he’s challenging her.
Why the French Accent Actually Works
Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room. Friedrich Bhaer is supposed to be German. Louis Garrel is very, very French. He didn't even try to hide the accent, and surprisingly, it didn't matter.
Critics at The New Yorker famously compared the change to "ordering bratwurst and getting coq au vin." It’s a different flavor, sure, but it fits the 2019 film's meta-narrative.
Jo March needs someone who isn't impressed by her just because she's "one of the girls." She needs someone who treats her writing like a profession. When Garrel's Bhaer tells Jo he doesn't like her sensationalist stories, it stings. But it stings because she respects his mind.
Their chemistry isn't the explosive, toxic-adjacent energy she had with Laurie (Timothée Chalamet). It’s quiet. It’s built on books, shared opera trips, and honest—sometimes brutal—critique.
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The Jo, Laurie, and Friedrich Triangle
Most of us spent our childhoods mad that Jo didn't marry Laurie.
But 2019's Little Women finally makes the case for why she shouldn't have. Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan have incredible chemistry, but it's a "growing pains" kind of love. They're too similar. They both want to be the center of the world.
Louis Garrel provides the "anchor."
- Intellectual Stimulation: Bhaer pushes Jo to write from her heart, not just for a paycheck.
- Equality: He doesn't look down on her for her poverty or her temperament.
- The "Non-Ending": In the movie's meta-ending, the relationship with Bhaer is framed as a commercial necessity for the book Jo is writing, yet Garrel makes it feel earned in the "real" world of the film.
A New Kind of Romantic Lead
It's kinda funny how much the "Friedrich Bhaer is hot" discourse took over Twitter when the movie dropped. But there's a deeper point there. By making Bhaer attractive and younger, Gerwig removed the "settling" narrative.
In older interpretations, it felt like Jo married Bhaer because she was lonely or because it was the "right" thing to do. With Garrel, you actually see why she’d want to chase him down in the rain.
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He’s messy. His hair is a disaster. He looks like he hasn't slept in three days because he was up reading philosophy. For a girl like Jo, that’s way more attractive than a rich guy in a nice suit.
Real-World Reception
While some Alcott fans missed the "old Fritz" from the books, most critics praised the update. The Guardian noted that Garrel ensures Jo isn't "short-changed in the husband department."
It also helped bridge the gap for modern audiences. In 2026, we're still talking about this movie because it doesn't feel like a museum piece. It feels like a story about people we actually know.
Garrel’s performance is subtle. He stays in the periphery for much of the film, which makes his impact on Jo’s life feel more like a slow burn than a lightning bolt.
Next Steps for Your Watchlist
If you loved Louis Garrel in Little Women, you’ve gotta check out his other work to see the range he’s bringing to the table. Start with A Faithful Man (2018)—he actually directed that one too. It’s got that same intellectual, slightly awkward but charming energy. Then, go back and re-watch the 1994 Little Women just to see how much the Bhaer character has evolved. You'll realize just how much heavy lifting Garrel did to make the "boring" professor the one we’re all rooting for.