Streaming: Netflix
Warnings:
Explicit Language
Sexual content
Brief graphic nudity
Teen Partying
Rating: R
Lady Bird is a coming-of-age comedy-drama about an artistically inclined teenager struggling to figure out who she is in Sacramento, California. Written and directed by Greta Gerwig in her directional debut, the film explores the struggles of being an outsider as a teenager as well as a strained mother-daughter relationship. Lady Bird stars Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein, Lois Smith, Odeya Rush, and Stephen McKinley Henderson. The film received critical acclaim, it is considered one of the best films of the 2010s praising the screenplay, direction and the performances of Ronan and Metcalf. Lady Bird was also chosen by the National Board of Review, the American Film Institute and Time Magazine as one of the best films of the year. Lady Bird was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress (Metcalf), Best Supporting Actress (Ronan), Best Original Screenplay and Best Director at the 90th Academy Awards. At the 75th Golden Globes, Lady Bird won Best Motion Picture for Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in Musical or Comedy (Ronan), it also received numerous other nominations and awards. From the acting, the screenplay and the cinematography this film was destined for worldwide recognition.
The screenplay was incredibly strong and certainly brought the story to life. The dialogue is relatable and natural for the young actors as well as the older parents. Gerwig wrote the script, and it has been described as “semi-autobiographical,” however nothing in the movie ever happened in Gerwig’s life, although the core truth resonates with her own experiences. To better prepare the cast, Gerwig gave them her old high-school yearbooks, photos and journals as well as passages from Joan Didion and she also took them on a tour of her hometown. During the process of writing, the screenplay grew to over 350 pages, which would have been about 6 hours long, luckily it was cut down enough to make a shorter heartwarming story. Gerwig’s intention of making Lady Bird was to have a female counterpart to the films Boyhood and Moonlight. The New York Times described Lady Bird as “big-screen perfection… exceptionally well-written, full of wordplay and lively argument. Every line sounds like something a person might actually say, which means that the movie is also exceptionally well acted.” The screenplay is truly the backbone of this film, the strength in the screenplay added to the development of the characters and the flow of the story.
The casting was well thought out in regard to the main family the film focuses on as well as the characters that help Lady Bird grow into who she becomes. Saoirse Ronan and Gerwig met at the Toronto International Film Festival where they were promoting other films. They read the script in a hotel room with Ronan reading the part of Lady Bird and Gerwig reading the other characters, and by the second page Gerwig knew she wanted to cast Ronan for the part of Lady Bird. Ronan dyed her hair for the role and made sure not to wear makeup to cover her acne. She thought of the film as an opportunity to let a teenager on screen actually look like a teenager in real life. Details like this makes the film great, most teenagers portrayed in Hollywood are far from accurate which causes insecurity in a lot of teens. Gerwig’s approach is a more realistic portrayal and allows the audience to enjoy the film for its sincerity and creativity. Gerwig even encouraged cast members to keep secrets about their characters from her, which allows the actors to take on the character on another level beyond the writing. Lady Bird is successful for a variety of elements, but the acting and writing is what made the film worthy of the numerous nominations and accolades.
The cinematography is an additional element that makes the film engaging and heartwarming. Sam Levy executed the cinematography, he is known for Frances Ha, While We’re Young, and Mistress America. The camerawork in Lady Bird is symmetrical and pleasing to the eye, while also introspective. The cinematography helps the audience get into the story even further beyond the script and the acting. At one point in the film the mother and daughter are arguing in a moving car while the camera is on the hood. This camera angle makes the audience feel as if they are watching the argument from a front row seat. Throughout the film there are clever camera angles like this, and it adds to the intrigue of the viewer as well as the wonderful storytelling. The cinematography is not the only element that made this film great but in addition to the screenplay and acting, it added to the masterful work.
Lady Bird is a genuine, heartwarming and emotional comedy that allows the audience to look back into their teen years through the eyes of Gerwig and Ronan. The film shows the audience a typical American family and what it’s like to be a teen trying to find who they are in the early 2000s. Through the methodical screenwriting, talented acting and beautiful cinematography, Lady Bird captures a relatable truth that transcends the typical coming-of-age film. If you wish to see an insightful film that highlights teen expression as well as turmoil, I highly recommend Lady Bird.