Lady Bird
In the opening scene of Lady Bird, the titular protagonist, played by Saoirse Ronan, tells her mother she wishes she “could live through something.” Although this line exasperates her mother, I understand what she means. Part of what makes Lady Bird so relatable is that the story of Lady Bird’s senior year of high school is relatively uneventful, at least by the standards of the film’s fellow awards-season contenders.
As she transitions from childhood into adulthood, Lady Bird auditions for the school musical, applies to college and forges new relationships, all seemingly without facing any remarkable challenge or triumph. But Lady Bird forces its audience to re-evaluate what it means for an experience to be remarkable.
Many adults see teenagers as having no understanding of the real world. That’s certainly how Lady Bird’s mother views her. Sure, Lady Bird doesn’t understand everything about the world, but she’s living in her world, and there are plenty of worthwhile experiences to have within it.
Of course, part of the reason this film meant so much to me is that I can directly relate to some of her experiences. When she tears open the college decision letters, it’s possible I held my breath a bit longer than some of the other audience members.
But Lady Bird should be watched to gain a refreshingly respectful look at teenage experiences. Maybe she doesn’t face any harrowing tragedies, but in her own way, Lady Bird has lived through something. And she reminds me that I’m living through something, too.
Many adults see teenagers as having no understanding of the real world. That’s certainly how Lady Bird’s mother views her. Sure, Lady Bird doesn’t understand everything about the world, but she’s living in her world, and there are plenty of worthwhile experiences to have within it.
Of course, part of the reason this film meant so much to me is that I can directly relate to some of her experiences. When she tears open the college decision letters, it’s possible I held my breath a bit longer than some of the other audience members.
But Lady Bird should be watched to gain a refreshingly respectful look at teenage experiences. Maybe she doesn’t face any harrowing tragedies, but in her own way, Lady Bird has lived through something. And she reminds me that I’m living through something, too.