The quote on the screen by Joan Didion reads: “Anybody who talks about California hedonism has never spent a Christmas in Sacramento.” Greta Gerwig’s new film ‘Lady Bird’ establishes her as a fresh new voice in independent filmmaking. She has made a career starring in quirky arthouse dramas like ‘Frances Ha’ and ‘Mistress America.’ Now she steps behind the camera turning her semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story into one of the best movies of 2017. It deserves critical acclaim for the realistic depiction of its teenage characters. The screenplay by Gerwig screams with wit, truth and angst during that awkward stage from high school to college. Irish-American actress Saoirse Ronan is superb in the lead role and quite simply gets better with each performance. ‘Lady Bird’ is a real pleasure and required viewing for cinephiles.
“I want you to be the very best version of yourself,” says her domineering mother, Marion (Laurie Metcalf of Rosanne TV fame). “But what if this is the best version?” Lady Bird responds. It’s biting dialogue that perfectly captures our heroine struggling to attain her independence. We all can identify with that emotional rollercoaster called adolescence. The movie’s title comes from the name Christine (Ronan) has given herself at a Catholic high school to assert her independence. Lady Bird’s goal is nothing more than to leave her hometown of Sacramento, California behind and attend a prestigious east-coast college. Her passive-aggressive mother reminds her that her grades are not good enough and she should settle for a more affordable in-state college. Much of the film deals with her volatile relationship with her mother. You can tell that they love each other but are so similar that they end up saying things to each other they regret later.
Stuck in the “Midwest of California,” Lady Bird is hell-bent on pursuing her dream of attending a college in the cultural epicenter of New York City. Through her journey, we get to know Lady Bird and eventually root for her. She’s not the smartest kid in her class but there is definitely something special about her that is just waiting to come out. We get to watch her smoke her first clove cigarette, deal with the awkwardness of sex and get excited about attending prom. You may think you’ve seen it all before in a dozen other teen dramas but Gerwig’s script and cast give the material depth and humanity. Besides Ronan’s outstanding performance, the film’s supporting cast is exceptional too. Ronan’s two crushes in the film are “Manchester by the Sea’s” Lucas Hedges and “Call Me by Your Name’s” Timothee Chalamet. Her BFF Julie is played by Beanie Feldstein. There is a wonderful scene of Lady Bird and Julie nibbling on a box of communion wafers like potato chips but don’t worry she assures another student, they are not consecrated.
Lady Bird’s dilemma is not that different from many girls her age. She comes from a loving middle-class family that wants the best for her. Her mother is a bit controlling and her dad is a bit of a softie. It’s not that she hates Sacramento but it symbolizes a major hurdle for her to reach her full potential. She even dyes her hair that shows a fierce streak of individualism. Lady Bird is self-centered and enthusiastic about life. Her impulsive personality prevents her from always making the right decision like most 17-year-olds. The more we get to know her we sense she will land on her feet like many teenagers her age eventually do. It’s a fascinating character study of a young woman finding her own path in life. Nobody escapes adolescence unscathed but we all seem to survive it.
The real joy in ‘Lady Bird’ is that it launches Gerwig as a bonafide filmmaker. It is exciting to think about what she will come up with for her next film project. Gerwig may have left the nest but like all of us has not forgotten her roots. ‘Lady Bird’ is a charming and wonderfully acted coming-of-age film that should not be missed.
