Honestly, when I first saw the trailer to "Lady Bird" I thought it looked good but not great. I debated whether I wanted to spend nearly $20 (because yes tickets in LA are that expensive) to see this film. That being said, I was beyond thrilled with my decision to see it in theaters. While I'd recommend seeing this film at any cost, I'd really recommend seeing it with your mom if you can! The movie is centered around a coming-of-age theme and a relationship between a rebellious teenager and her mother. I certainly wish I saw it with my mom!
"Lady Bird" is honestly one of the most flawless films I've seen in a long time. It would be so easy make another generic coming-of-age movie, but "Lady Bird" is so much more than that. To give you some context, the title character, Lady Bird, lives with her family in Northern California. She is in the midst of applying to colleges, and desperately wants to move to the Northeast upon graduation. The film focuses on the awkwardness of one's teenage years and the challenges one faces upon the end of adolescence.
Every single aspect of the film to me was perfection. The script was witty, the cinematography was sharp, the acting was superb. Saoirse Ronan played Lady Bird- two years ago she starred in "Brooklyn" in an entirely different role, so her acting ability was very evident in this film. The film brilliantly married humor and emotion, which is a lofty accomplishment for any film. The audience in the theater was continuously cracking up, and there were moments where I'm sure people were rummaging through their purses for tissues as well. Unless you are some force against nature, anyone and everyone can relate to the struggles of adolescence- finding yourself and your place in the world, while still living in the town you grew up in under your parents' roof. There were so many points in the film where I, among many others, I'm sure, thought "That's me! I've been through that". The themes of self-identification, finding one's home, the evolution of a family dynamic, and many more allow "Lady Bird" to be one of the most emotionally satisfying films of the year. It is the perfect balance of emotional and humorous.
Throughout the entire film I was entertained. When I wasn't laughing, I was connecting to the emotions of the characters. As I previously mentioned, the relationship between the mother and the daughter is a major component of the film. Something that I really liked was that those two characters were so similar- strong-willed, independent, fierce- yet they clashed and fought constantly. I think a lot of mother and daughter relationships work that way. When you're young, sometimes it's easier to rebel when you connect so strongly to a parent. In a way, you interpret this as them interrupting your path to self-identification. This was brilliantly crafted in "Lady Bird".
I genuinely think there is something for everyone in this film. I went to see it with two of my friends and we all came out with different parts of the film that strongly resonated with us. I don't want to spoil it, but there was one particularly emotional scene between the mother and daughter following a fight- this definitely made me think of me and my mom when I was in high school. For another friend, the notion of moving from a suburb to a big city was a strong point of connection. Regardless of who you are, I think you'd find a point of connection in "Lady Bird".
In conclusion, this film is delightful and insightful. Anyone can really connect with it, and I strongly urge you all to see it in theaters while you still can! I've noticed that many of my favorite movies don't necessarily have a complex plot- "Lady Bird" definitely follows suit. This movie presents the audience with regular people in everyday situations- and ensures that these are the characters we can relate to. Not to be corny, but you will laugh and you will cry. Don't believe me? See for yourself!
