Writer and director Greta Gerwig of the film Lady Bird does a splendid job at casually touching on many prominent issues that teenagers face growing up in America. It doesn't make it obvious and it doesn't make feel like it's trying to make some PSA. But the main character Christine McPherson or Lady Bird which is the name she has given herself and is the names she's prefers everyone to call her by. Lives through her senior year and experiences many difficult experiences as she makes the transition from High School into college. It captures in a unique way many aspects of the struggle of high school, trying to fit in with the cool crowd even if it means you might lose something. And juggling family life with school life or with boyfriends.
It's entertaining to see the unexpected behavior of lady bird, like in the opening scene of the movie when she argues with her mother and she gets so fed up with her mother she opens the car door and jumps out of a moving vehicle. From the very start we see Christine's impulsive behavior, but it's that impulsive behavior that leads her to learn and make mistakes and eventually will lead to finding herself.
Gerwig reveals this story about a girl in a poor family trying to make it through her senior year of highs school in Sacramento. Her dream is to attend a college in New York but financial issues and her mother are keeping her from making that dream reality. With her best friend Julie by her side to battle through High School they are always there for each other.
Where Gerwig does a brilliant job is in the script. With every interaction Lady Bird has with someone else it brings us deeper into who she is and what's she's trying to accomplish. Every argument with her mother or impulsive action brings a depth into her character that makes it easier to understand why she does what she does. I also think that the setting, especially the time period, of this movie is important. It's in 2002 where cell phones are just starting and not everyone has them. It's more of a wealthy person item and it also helps veer away from the Instagram and Snapchat obsessive lives that most kids have today.
This movie also connects very well with audience members especially teenagers in school right now because it just shows the raw life of a teenager. There's no sugar coating or anything like that, just harsh and real conditions. But People are intrigued by things they can relate to because it makes you think. It makes you think about your own life compared to the movie and this movie definitely connects to a lot of viewers out there. Also the mother and daughter or just kid to parent relationship will resonate with a lot of the viewers out there.
One of the more weaker aspects of the film was probably one of the last scenes of the movie where Lady Bird gets drunk and ends up in a hospital. The scene wasn't well put together and fast. Also the acting in that particular part wasn't that great and it just seemed like a the doctor that had like one line was just bad at trying to be a doctor.
Gerwig simply captures the highs and lows, the happy and sad, the dirty and beautiful moments of teenage life that is unparalleled to any other movie. That is why the movie is so good, because it reveals all of those things about High School in such a fresh and perfect way. It is also brings to life many situations we all have been apart of or will be a part of that makes relive those moments, and that what draws everyone to this movie, because you can connect to it.
