By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Lena Dunham
Starring: Andrew Scott | Bella Ramsey | Billie Piper | Dean-Charles Chapman | Isis Hainsworth | Joe Alwyn | Sophie Okonedo
Country: united_kingdom, united_states
Year: 2022
Running time: 108
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11727866/reference/
Brett says: “Writer/Director Lena Dunham returns to the big screen with CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY, a witty adaptation of the book of the same name by Karen Cushman. In this work, a 14-year old girl in medieval England undergoes the challenges and unfairness of the period while trying to remain true to her independent resolve. As one might expect from the acclaimed director, Dunham adapts the source material to explore the narrative through her own modern sensibilities and insights. A controversial figure at times, it’s safe to say Dunham’s opponents will remain fixed in their corners after viewing this while loyal fans will appreciate Dunham’s recognizable boldness and irreverence.
“Remarkably, the aforementioned tone does not interfere entirely with the language and setting as one might expect. Many other medieval period works have been reframed with modern lingo, situations, and anachronisms, but this film does not go completely off the rails and step all over the time period the way that other films like this have done. There are a fair amount of characters that are caricatures set up for modern scoffs and laughs more than others, but overall, the film doesn’t totally get caught up in its own ‘modernisms’ that it detracts from the intrigue of the period altogether.
“In short, it’s clear this is modern Lena Dunham at work, but it’s less of a meltdown of the period than it could have been. Lead actor Bella Ramsey portrays Birdy with an infectious jubilation when she’s at her happiest and still warms the heart with empathy when she’s cantankerous or mischievous. Like many modern instances in which the rules of how to act for young girls seems like moving goalposts, the film does an admirable job of featuring Birdy’s questions that can’t be asked directly as conversational Trojan horses.
“The biggest anachronistic leaps are in the soundtrack itself, which will distract some, but feel appropriate as a sort of time-bridge from past to present for others. The tracks are aching and dreamy versions of a teenage girl playlist from the 1960s all the way to present day that have medieval undercurrents in most of their arrangements. Again, this might turn some people away, but for this viewer, the arrangements and musical choices were spot on with the atmospheres created in those moments. Perhaps most significant of all is that this multi-decade compilation also nods to the experiences of young teenage girls from different generations that might view the film: groups older and younger, not just those in Dunham’s age range.
“The film seeks to honor the intelligence and rebelliousness harbored within independent teen girls. Birdy is very much her own person navigating social expectations that do not always add up or make sense. For fans of the book, do not expect a faithful, true-to-form adaptation. The book is largely an inspiration rather than ‘scripture,’ as one might expect from a Lena Dunham-produced work. Sometimes, young people just get it right. 4 cats out of 5
*Not recommended for those who require adaptations to be faithful to the source material”