There are very few films, where the setting is so important that it also becomes a character in the movie, such is the case for the city of Sacramento in Director Greta Gerwig's award-winning film "Lady Bird".
The colors of the film itself will make you feel the warmth of California, it is as if the "filter" used is named "Sacramento". I don't think I've seen a character, have such a love-hate relationship with a place, which is one of the conflicts that Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, (Saoirse Ronan) a high school senior (in a co-ed Catholic school!) who is ready and eager to spread her proverbial wings and leave the nest, of which her kind depressed father, Larry (Tracy Letts), her equally strong willed mother, Marion (Laurie Metcalf) and her newly wed brother Miguel and wife Shelly live in.
Christine insists on being called "Lady Bird" ('its given to me- by me' she says.) and dreams of leaving Sacramento to attend college in New York, much to her mother's disapproval as the family is struggling financially and would not be able to afford the tuition.
Lady Bird spends her senior year falling in love, discovering heartache, learning about friends and coming to terms with her difficult relationship with her mother.
The plot of "Lady Bird" is so simple- that it is so real. I may have an unfair advantage of also attending Catholic Schools (all the way from pre-school to College) and going through some financial difficulties myself when I was studying, which is why I could relate to most of Lady Bird's conflicts, although I couldn't be as stubborn and determined as she was. Don't worry though, you don't need to have come from a Catholic school or have been a angsty teenager with a difficult relationship with your mother in order to appreciate and enjoy "Lady Bird". The film is presented in such a way that despite being another coming-of-age story, it comes of as 'fresh' and captivating, thanks to the award winning performances of the cast Ronan and Metcalf are a dynamic duo, so powerful and vulnerable in their performances that they could actually be mother and daughter!
Greta Gerwig's directorial debut should be celebrated as it brings us this gem of a film and promises of more in the future (crosses fingers).
9.5/10-In what could be the best "coming of age" story. "Lady Bird" soars high, anchored on strong performances, a genuine understanding of the film's setting and an impressive directorial debut from Greta Gerwig.
A must see for mothers and daughters and all the awkward teenagers trying to discover themselves, or even the clueless adult, trying to make sense of things until now. It is an ode to growing up and the ode is so real that it celebrates everything that comes along with it-beauty, heartache and self discovery.
