Lady Bird
Lady Bird is a heartwarming coming of age tale, expertly realised by both its cast and debut director/writer Greta Gerwig, who captures and pens meaningful insight into the trials of growing up.
Christine 'Lady Bird' McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) is at a Sacramento Catholic high school hoping to someday move to New York. Her teenage way of thinking causes frictions with her mum Marion (Laurie Metcalf), who sees Lady Bird as being ungrateful. As the teenager tries to find her way, she may find out how important family is too.
For a debut writing and directing venture, this is almost solid gold from Greta Gerwig. She weaves in moments of humour between sudden hits of emotion and poignancy, these ups and downs are reflective of the central mother-daughter dynamic. Gerwig’s directing is practically perfect, seeing shots of the city help explore this setting and soon we're affected by this wonder, boredom and ultimately grounded connection to ‘home’.
This is a film that made me and others laugh frequently. The comedy of difficult teens and the 2002/3 nostalgia is mined superbly. The whole aspect of Lady Bird and her trouble to find a place in the strife of school social circles is fantastically scripted. Fundamentally, this is a narrative revolving around the often strained mother-daughter bond. Come the final frame of the movie, the emotional core of family and knowing where your roots are rings loud. Though there are plenty of laughs, this is a film that made me tear up.
Saoirse Ronan’s talent shines through in the titular role of a teenage girl living through joy, first loves, best friends, craving popularity and wanting nothing more than being out of Sacramento. It's Lady Bird's name, hair and arm cast that are worn like badges of individuality as she hopes to understand herself. Laurie Metcalf plays a caring mother and is convincing with pent up frustrations and maternal tensions that boil over at times. Tracy Letts provides gentle humour as the calm dad with a kind heart. Lucas Hedges creates an impressive blossoming romance before his path is neatly developed.
I'd say that nearly the entirety of this coming of age comedy/drama had me feeling warmly fuzzy and beaming widely as I watched. Family and home are important, and this film comically and charmingly holds a mirror on those central themes.
8/10
