I first heard about fall’s buzziest film, Lady Bird, in late August. I knew about the film, thanks to following actress Beanie Feldstein, one of the film’s stars, on Twitter (Side note: Everyone should follow Beanie Feldstein on Twitter. You won’t regret it!). When she Tweeted about the trailer, I watched it, and instantly vowed that when the film came to Williamsburg, I would see it. This past Tuesday, I went to see the film, and boy, did it not disappoint.
For those unfamiliar with the plot, Lady Bird, written and directed by Greta Gerwig, follows Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, as she navigates her senior year of high school. Lady Bird (portrayed by the incredible Saoirse Ronan) and her best friend Julie (Feldstein) experience the ups-and-downs of best friendship as they deal with crushes (played by Lucas Hedges and Timothee Chalamet) and high school theatre. And as Lady Bird attempts to find a way out of Sacramento after her senior year, she struggles to maintain her relationship with her mother (Laurie Metcalf) who is just as stubborn as she is.
While the film may seem like a simple coming of age story, it’s so much more than that. I would wager a fair amount of money that almost all young women (and maybe some young men) can see themselves in the characters of Lady Bird and Julie. Whether it is a longing for something more (like East Coast Culture), struggling to be the best version of yourself, or simply discovering what it means to be you, Gerwig’s film just manages to capture all of these feelings that we once dealt with (and may still be dealing with).
And while Lady Bird does deal with the intricacies and emotions of first love, men are not the center of this film. As opposed to some overly drawn out romantic plot, the relationships that take center stage are the relationships between Lady Bird and Julie, and Lady Bird and her mother. It’s refreshing to see such authentic female relationships played out on screen. When Lady Bird and her mother had a disagreement while shopping for clothes, I saw my own mom and I bickering as we shopped for my first prom dress. When Lady Bird and Julie ate communion wafers while laughing and gossiping, I saw my own friends and I giggling together. That audience members can so easily project their own lives and experiences on screen, simply speaks to Gerwig’s ability to craft a film that is universally relatable.
As Lady Bird continues to break records, rack up awards, and wow audiences everywhere, the film industry as a whole should take note. Here is a film written by, directed by, and starring women that is starting a conversation. If it accomplishes nothing else this awards season, Lady Bird is proof that female driven films have an audience the entertainment industry. If Lady Bird is in a city near you, I issue this one command: go see it. Take your mom. Take your best friend. Go by yourself. You won’t regret it.
Images courtesy of Vimeo