It is a genre popular with Americans: coming of age story. Or the story of the passage, sometimes painful, often delicate, from adolescence to adulthood. In this case, that of Christine, aka Lady Bird, who dreams of fleeing Sacramento for New York. A seemingly inaccessible destination for a middle-class girl.
This story is in part that of Greta Gerwig whose Lady Bird is the first solo feature film. Since then, the director has enjoyed success with Doctor March's Daughters et Barbie . A test attempt for a master stroke as we find here everything that makes the charm of the actress (and screenwriter) of Frances Ha. Originality of tone, genius of dialogue, acute sense of rhythm.
Read also: “The Chronicles of Narnia”. The saga soon to be adapted on Netflix, with Greta Gerwig at the helm
There is in fact nothing to throw away in the ninety minutes that lasts Lady Bird. On a subject seen and revisited, Greta Gerwig makes her unique little music heard. And generate immediate empathy for this rebellious and crazy teenager, as for those around her, starting with her mother who is so loving that she becomes oppressive.
Cowardly and tender
Greta Gerwig also moves from humor to emotion with incredible ease. His film is as cowardly as it is tender, endearing as it is painful. And its main actress, Saoirse Ronan (Grand Budapest Hotel) evolves like a fish in water in the heart of these contradictory feelings.
She is surrounded by irresistible supporting roles, including Laurie Metcalf (Grey’s Anatomy) and Timothée Chalamet (Dune). A lesson in comedy in every sense of the word.
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