Ladybird Ladybird

This film defies description and cannot be put into a category. It's one-of-a-kind in every positive sense ot the label. Performances are all sensational, with a breakout debut by the female lead. When I learned this was based on a true story, I was even more astounded by this remarkable gem of a film.

SEE IT! You won't forget it; you definitely won't regret it. I guarantee!

A very anger-driven film powered by a sense of outrage for it's short-tempered lead, it's attempts at railing against the social service system in the UK are somewhat undercut by the behaviour of the mother at the centre.

She has 4 (later 6) kids from 4 (later 5) different fathers. She constantly returns to one partner who likes to smash her head in, putting her and her offspring in danger. She leaves them at home to sing karaoke while her flat burns down, seriously injuring them. Can you blame the authorities for wanting to take her children away?

Yes, she had a hard past which impacts her decisions in the present. But, at least in my view, this doesn't give her the license to put her kids at risk, even if you do have sympathy for her situation. The fact she lashes out at everyone trying to help her doesn't help matters either, so the blatant attempts by the director and writer to be on her side aren't ever all that effective.

Oh well. The performances are great, with Crissy Rock handing some intensely emotional scenes with aplomb, and Vladimir Vega as her too-nice-by-half Paraguayan boyfriend providing good support. It's based on a true story too, though the only 'happy' ending to be found here is in the final text.

Overall, it's a moving and somewhat absorbing drama in the typical Mike Leigh vein, but one where the protagonist is too flawed to make it truly great. This wouldn't be a problem, but when the movie is always 100% in her corner and expects us to feel the same way, perhaps you can see where the disconnect might cause a problem. 6/10

Chrissy Rock gave an unforgettable performance in this little seen film. i highly recommend anyone to go out and rent it. another great but "little seen" film is "Once Were Warriors". my advice is if you go to the video store to rent a couple movies, and are interested in how movies should be made,search for these 2 titles,and you'll see your trip to the video store was well worth it!

I challenge any parent who has been questioned over the care of the children or any person who has been unjustly accused of neglect as I have have once been, to sit and watch this disturbing powerhouse of a film. I paused it twice during my original sitting and had to take a moment to deal with what I was being confronted with once again. Rarely . . . yes VERY RARELY does a film or a movie engage me to this point. I have seen several Ken Loach films and I live in admiration of this artist/man, but yet I wasn't prepared for what I sat and watched. I give this 10 out of 10 and am shocked that it hasn't been recognised further by any awards society such as "The Bafta" and "Academy Awards".

Chrissy Rock, I take my hat off to you to have the guts to give all that you gave for your performance, the the actor that played "Jorge" . . you have delivered a standout performance. Ken Loach, you are my hero.

Indeed I stand by my title, possibly the most powerful and disturbing film every made. Magnificent. Ambitious. It delivers.

Crissy Rock gives it her all in this. She plays Maggie. A single mother with 4 kids to 4 different blokes, each of them taken away by social services. She has clear behavioural problems and lives a life of poor choices and bad decisions on repeat. A woman that "smells trouble and goes to bed with it", as her neighbour describes her.

Im conflicted because the film encourages us to be more sympathetic towards the protagonist and her plight but I have no sympathy whatsoever for Maggie, and while I detest the social workers they were 100% necessary here. Maggie is an unfit mother incapable of supporting her litter, let alone herself. She is just as volatile as the men in her life, and her choice of nasty and abusive men that she chooses to subject her own children to was my main reason for thinking her a terrible mother. Clearly her own worst enemy yet the blame always lies on someone or something else and it always will because of that "poor me" mentality.

Another thing that annoyed me and it's something you see all the time sadly. Maggie tells the social worker to stop giving her child condiments with their meals because she can't afford to buy them. Fair enough right? Then you see her lighting a fag, then another, and another. If you can't afford table sauce for your children but you have money to smoke you need to recheck your goddamn priorities.

We've all seen and met people like Maggie. I've lived next to a Maggie or two in my time. The type of person that can't support or even handle the kids they have already yet they keep having them and getting them taken away. Zero aspirations in life other than getting pregnant and living off of benefits. The kind of neighbours that scream constantly and have police at their door routinely but never seem to learn or want to help themselves.

A good Ken Loach flick but far from his best. Still worth a watch but before the film starts you might want to take an aspirin for that inevitable headache.