If you are reading this, you are alive. And if you are alive, you must do what you makes you happy. That is the message Lady Bird portrays. It is a film of wondrous proportions and contains a beautiful story about love, happiness, and the joy received from those close to you.
The movie is directed and written by Greta Gerwig, who was a famous actress before making her directorial debut with Lady Bird. She starred in movies like To Rome with Love, Frances Ha, and Jackie, among others. She also is nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for the 75th Academy Awards. The movie itself won Best Picture – Comedy/Musical and Best Actress in a Leading Role – Comedy/Musical for the titular role, performed by Saoirse Ronan. This movie is already a memorable movie this year and only the first stepping stone for Gerwig as a fantastic director and writer.
Lady Bird may seem like any coming-of-age story starring dramatic characters with simple lives and enjoyable plot developments. Lady Bird is not that clear cut. It weaves ideas and stories gracefully into one another and never fails to impress. With a running time of only an hour and a half, quite short for most movies these days, it always has a new idea to explore, without letting go of previous ones.
Lady Bird follows the life of Christine McPherson or, as she proudly named herself, “Lady Bird.” She is in her final year at her Catholic high school in Sacramento, California and looking forward to getting out and moving away from there. Far, far away from there. All the way to the East Coast where, “the writers live in the woods. She has a brother who seems to be adopted due to his ethnicity and his girlfriend who live in the house with them after they dropped out of college. Her father is “Mr. Nice Guy” who always seems to have her back, and her mother, who was also nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Comedy, is the bane and epitome of Lady Bird’s existence.
This relationship between her and her mother is what drives these performances home. There are many other characters and stories that make this movie relatable and enjoyable but to see Gerwig’s masterpiece of a mother-daughter dynamic is to understand why this movie deserves all the awards it receives. It’s powerful and warm, calling to each of our own relationships with our parents. For those moving away from home, looking to start a new life, don’t forget to call your mother. And for those missing their daughter, call them. They may seem like they don’t miss you, but trust me; they do.
From an outside perspective, Lady Bird’s life may seem like a normal teenager’s life. Sometimes stressful, sometimes fun, sometimes normal, and sometimes not. However, the movie does not give you this outside perspective. You feel her stress, and her fun, and everyday life. Gerwig covers topics of depression, sexual identity, religious upbringing, family, friends, and what it means to be alive. With a short running time, one may question how this movie can cover all these topics effectively. And my answer is to just watch. This movie will amaze you. It will make you cry, smile, and hug whoever you are watching it with, which I highly recommend. Give them a kiss, hug, wink, high five. Let them know that they are important because this movie will show you why.
Watching this movie as a 20-year old male, I have an specific opinion about this movie and I can relate to it in a certain way. However, when I grow up and re-watch this great movie again, I’m going to see it in a whole new light. There is a character in this movie that anyone watching can relate to. That’s what makes it so beautiful. Because it literally is for everybody.
Please watch this movie with a loved one. It will make you happy to be alive. 5/5
