By Kaelie Macaulay
Arts Editor
Teenagehood, a topic often romanticized in film, is highlighted brilliantly in “Lady Bird,” a coming of age tale of a young woman residing in Sacramento, California.
Nominated for numerous Academy Awards including Best Film and Best Director, “Lady Bird,” a coming of age story, awes viewers with a captivating plot, introspective cinematography, and superb acting.
Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, “Lady Bird” follows an artistic seventeen-year-old girl living in Sacramento on her journey to college and adulthood. “Lady Bird” is loosely autobiographical as Gerwig intertwines aspects of herself and her experiences into the film.
“Lady Bird,” tells the story of Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, played by Saoirse Ronan, as she meanders her way through senior year, adulthood and self discovery. Branching out from just a single point of view, the film also includes how Christine’s mother, Marion McPherson, played by Laurie Metcalf, is affected by Christine’s actions and decisions.
Despite not having an action-packed plot, the storyline is fully immersive as each event ties into the next, making the film seamless and intriguing. Rarely does the viewer have time to react to an event due to the fast-paced nature of the storyline, which ensures that the audience is thoroughly enthralled in the plotline.
Touching on often taboo subjects such as sexuality, family dynamics, and finances, “Lady Bird” covers a broad spectrum of teenage issues, thus making the film a quintessential example of adolescence in which many can identify. Gerwig successfully portrays these problems without romanticising them by showing how each obstacle affects each character.
Intertwined throughout the plot, motherhood is significantly portrayed as a major theme of the plot. Christine repeatedly has trouble understanding her mother’s emotionally abusive tendencies and the reason behind them. The heavily emphasized mother-daughter relationship adds another layer of relatability to the film and allows viewers to sympathize with the characters, boosting the overall enjoyability of the movie.
The cinematography featured in “Lady Bird” is simplistic in nature, but is able to maintain focus and impress viewers throughout the entirety of the film. Simultaneous with Christine’s movements, the camera responds to create the impression that the viewer is watching a memory. This subtle, minute detail amplifies and augments the authenticity and forthright portrayal of the storyline.
Ronan and Metcalf’s lively banter adds a comedic aspect to the film, allowing audiences a break from the emotional intensity of the film. Ronan’s superior acting ability further fascinates the audience as she effectively embodies Christine and her impulsive nature.
As a whole, “Lady Bird” proves to be a top contender for an Oscar with a beautiful coming of age story accompanied by gracious cinematography, flawless plotline, and marvelous acting by Ronan, combined to make a completely indulgent movie.
“Lady Bird” is available for viewing in select theaters nationwide.
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