"Lady Bird" -- The Coming Of Age Story About Flying Away Home

I watched Lady Bird and wrote a review on it a while back, but never posted it. So here it is finally! (only a few months late... oops)

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Lady Bird is Greta Gerwig’s award winning coming of age masterpiece, and I still find it hard to believe that it is indeed her directorial debut. Lady Bird gives you The Breakfast Club, The Edge Of Seventeen, and The Perks Of Being a Wallflower vibe all in one. What all these films share in common is the struggle associated with adolescence. Let’s face it, everyone is afraid of growing up, and growing up is hard. As I’m writing this, I’m on the same boat as the main character “Lady Bird” because I too am a teenage girl and this film explores the life of a typical teenage girl. The first job, the first boyfriend, the first heartbreak, applying to university, and overall finding a place to call home. “We’re afraid that we will never escape our past, we’re afraid of what the future will bring, we’re afraid we won’t be loved, we won’t be liked, and we won’t succeed.” This quote is said by the priest in the film and ironically, deeply resonates with the main character Christine (“Lady Bird”) who never pays any attention to mass. Starring Saorise Ronan, Lady Bird is the story of a girl who feels like she doesn’t belong. “Lady Bird” is brought up in a very religious Catholic school but refuses to conform to the role of the typical Catholic school student. She wants more out of life but feels restricted. Struggling in school, “Lady Bird” is still very optimistic and despite many obstacles she faces in terms of her love life, friendships, and school, she still manages to chase what she’s searching for even if it’s not where she thought it was all along. The uproarious comedy touches upon financial instability and struggling familial relations all tied together with mistakes, forgiveness, realization, struggle, and second chances.

Lady Bird does not get enough credit for the incredible cast. It’s the type of cast that you couldn’t even picture anyone else playing that role because each character was so raw and powerful in their performance. What especially stood out was the chemistry and bond between Saoirse’s character “Lady Bird” and her mother who is played by Laurie Metcalf and how they exhibit a true test of a power struggle between mother and daughter. Both characters have equally strong personalities and strong opinions. “Lady Bird” is more of a free spirit who does whatever she wants when she feels like it. Whereas her mother, is very much old fashioned and although sacrifices so many things for her daughter, still remains true to her loving character which is discovered in the end. The mother-daughter love is what truly showcases the impeccable relationship they both have with one another and how nothing, not even different opinions or bickering can tear them away from one another.

Overall, I have decided to give the film Lady Bird 4/5 stars. This is a film that did not resonate with everyone. However, it was the first coming of age film that I saw in a while that I deeply connected with not only when it came to the characters, but the emotions associated and the deeper underlying meaning carried throughout the story as well.

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