Review of Lady Bird (2017) by Juan Fernando R — 02 Jan 2019

Greta Gerwig's solo directorial debut is an ode of sorts both to her own upbringing in Sacramento and to the prickly experiences of all teenagers just trying to fit in. It may have received no love at the Oscars (albeit with several nominations), but Lady Bird is a masterpiece of a film, deliciously amusing and, above all, heartfelt.

Lady Bird may be semi-autobiographical (it gives a sense of being deeply personal to its creator throughout), but it is not a young Greta Gerwig whose story we follow, rather Christine MacPherson (Saoirse Ronan), a Sacramento teen who prefers to be referred to by her "given name", Lady Bird ("I gave it to myself, it's given to me by me"). We watch as Lady Bird makes that daunting transition from adolescence to adulthood, battling the struggles of friendships, love and a more than uneasy relationship with her mother Marion (a phenomenal Laurie Metcalf).

What is perhaps most incredible about Lady Bird is the way it takes one of the most cliched, safe genres in cinema, the coming-of-age, and manages to bring a freshness and spark to it with such ease. Lady Bird breaks no ground with its plot, but it proves that a film doesn't have to do so to instil a real feeling in its audience and be something special. Greta Gerwig's direction is utterly flawless; her understanding of character and canny eye for period detail lend the film a profound sincerity and a slick appearance, thoughtful and detailed down to a tee. Lady Bird feels like a love letter from Gerwig, a classic example of a film that is evidently special to its director and translates its emotional impact perfectly to its audience. This movie made me laugh and cry, often from one to the other, like a game of ping pong, yet never feeling unnatural or forced.

In truth, the success of Lady Bird relies one one person; Saoirse Ronan is faultless as the eponymous lead, bringing a youthful spunkiness to the role, coupled with a gorgeous vulnerability. Gerwig is not afraid to depict ultimately flawed characters; no truer is this seen than in Ronan's performance, the young star carrying the film on her shoulders with an envious ease. Lady Bird finds its greatest performer, however, in Laurie Metcalf, playing Christine's exasperated, yet bullishly strong-willed mother. Metcalf's performance is simply astounding, her final scene enough to bring anyone to tears and rivalling Patricia Arquette's Oscar-winning matriarch in Boyhood. Scenes between Ronan and Metcalf are some of the best in the film, sharply written and sometimes painfully relatable. The movie is backed up by a talented supporting cast, including a gentle father in Tracy Letts and Beanie Feldstein showing great comedic timing as Lady Bird's insecure best friend, Julie.

There is something very beautiful about Lady Bird; it's a very understated film yet has an unparalleled effect in entirely immersing its audience within the lives of its characters. It's wonderfully funny, intelligently constructed and has an emotional core that is never loudly exclaimed but is always deeply affecting. A stunning film, Lady Bird leaves me hungry for more from Greta Gerwig.