TEENANGST FILM THAT WILL MOVE YOU
THIS is an artistically-done coming-of-age movie that’s beautifully blended with an explosive mix of emotions. A directorial debut for Greta Gerwig, the film, which received several nominations at the upcoming Academy Awards, is funny, heartbreaking and dramatic all at once.
Gerwig wrote the film based on her memories as a Catholic schoolgirl growing up in Sacramento in the early 2000s.
The film follows the life of Christine McPherson (played by Saoirse Ronan), a 17-year-old who calls herself Lady Bird.
Much of Lady Bird’s life on screen is similar to Gerwig’s life. For example, Lady Bird’s mother is a nurse, Marion (played by Laurie Metcalf) while her dad is a computer programmer (Tracy Letts), just like Gerwig’s own parents. Saoirse Ronan (left) as Lady Bird.
I suppose many teens will relate to Christine, a pink-haired rebellious girl on a journey to find herself.
Having to attend a Catholic school that’s not of her choice, she feels life doesn’t reward her enough. Surrounded by schoolchildren who come from wealthy families, she dreams of having the same luxury too.
She has a tumultous relationship with her overworked mother who disapproves of her applying for a college placement in the east coast. They constantly fight but behind all the arguments, Lady Bird longs for maternal acceptance.
Her mother is hard on her, with good reason, but Lady Bird doesn’t see it that way. She thinks her mother dislikes her. This fuels her desire to move far away from her parents as soon as she can, despite knowing that her parents can only really afford to send her to a local community college.
It’s a coming-of-age story with familiar tropes such as the lows of teenage life, prom night, first love, broken friendships, fights with parents and trying to fit in with the cool crowd at school. But it paints a beautiful portrait of adolescence that’s not cliche or cheesy.
Ronan, a twice-Oscar-nominated American-Irish actress, tackles the role of Christine so naturally that it makes her lovable and annoying at the same time. She’s hardheaded but also vulnerable at times and it makes the audience empathise with her.
Despite the teenage drama, I like that the film heavily centres on the relationship between Lady Bird and her mother. It delivers a lesson to both parents and children.
Lady Bird discovers the emotional journey that her parents, especially her mother, go through in order to provide the best for her children.
As for Marion, she discovers the hardhitting truth all parents feel when her child eventually leaves the nest.
The duo put on a very moving performance to portray a mother-daughter relationship that’s painfully beautiful. It’s storyline is clever, simple and somehow very personal. This film is a pleasure to watch.