‘Catherine Referred to as Birdy’ evaluation: What occurs when Lena Dunham makes a film for teenagers?

A meteoric rise, a provocative hit TV present, a brash public persona, and a protracted record of scandals has made Lena Dunham a controversial determine, to say the least. But, her latest movie could also be her most surprising transfer but because the self-deprecating spitfire behind Ladies delivers a feel-good, coming-of-age comedy for teenagers. Whereas going PG-13 might sound wildly off-brand for the polarizing provocateur, Catherine Referred to as Birdy just isn’t solely charming but in addition clearly true to Dunham’s voice. 

Tailored from Karen Cushman’s award-winning kids’s novel, Catherine Referred to as Birdy facilities on a 14-year-old girl (Bella Ramsey) compelled to endure the indignities of being feminine and privileged in Thirteenth-century England. Whereas her brothers are allowed to be taught swordplay or be part of a monastery stuffed with cute boys, she is urged to do embroidery, look fairly, and usually play the a part of a woman. However just like the heroines near Dunham’s coronary heart, Birdy bristles in opposition to the societal expectations that may suffocate her. She loves mud fights and pulling pranks together with her loyal pal Perkin (Michael Woolfitt), and making up new curse phrases. So, when her father (Fleabag‘s Andrew Scott) decides it is time to marry her off, rebellious hijinks ensue. 

Catherine Referred to as Birdy is all about Lady Energy. 

That is to say, this youngsters’ film has a juvenile idea of feminism that begins and ends with ladies ought to have the ability to decide their very own destinies, versus having previous males do it for them. A theme infuriatingly timeless, it’s cemented in a sequence the place Birdy bellows to a lord, “You do not get to resolve who we’re or the place we go or how a lot we price — like we’re simply issues! We’re not issues. We’re individuals. And we will suppose and we will hear and we will really feel!” 

The message could be simplistic for adults, nevertheless it nonetheless hits due to Ramsey’s resolute efficiency. In flip, she is righteously outraged, perniciously playful, and winsomely wacky as she strives to shrug off her familial obligations and switch off the totally grown suitors (like a sniveling Russell Model), who would wed Birdy. In distinction to her tomboy persona and usually revolting nature, there’s her beloved finest good friend, Aelis (a wide-eyed Isis Hainsworth), who’s female, obedient, and fairly good at embroidery. By embracing Aelis, Birdy neatly avoids demonizing those that discover achievement in actions or conduct flagged (and denigrated) as femme. Dunham underscores its argument by presenting new paths for Aelis’s empowerment and happiness, past what the supply materials supplied. 

From Bella Ramsey to Andrew Scott and Billie Piper, Catherine Referred to as Birdy has a superb forged.

Credit score: Alex Bailey / Amazon Studios

With Ladies, Dunham gifted the world with the surprise that’s Adam Driver (and Allison Williams and Zosia Mamet and Andrew Rannells). With Birdy, she’s assembled a crackerjack forged that brings the right quantities of pathos and levity to this tragedy-strewn comedy. 

Increasing the depiction of womanhood within the movie are empathetic character arcs for girls of various social standings. The beguiling Sophie Okonedo portrays a rich widow named Ethelfritha whose joie de vivre appears to be rooted in her affluence, which presents her an autonomy and safety unavailable to girls with out monetary safety. Conversely, Birdy’s mom, Woman Aislinn (Billie Piper), is a loyal and affected person guardian who has endured a string of traumatizing miscarriages in her quest to construct her household. A sequence depicting medieval birthing methods avoids being graphic to appease its PG-13 wants, however it’s nonetheless highly effective due to Piper’s depth and Scott’s ardour. 

Representing the decrease class, Lesley Sharp brings a pointy tongue and a giant coronary heart to the function of Birdy’s nurse, Morwenna, who endures tantrums and comically incorrect rants about intercourse from the teenager aristocrat. Nonetheless, Sharp and the winsome Rita Bernard-Shaw, who performs a snort-laughing servant lady, get the quick finish of the follow small roles that painting being decrease class as a type of blessing the place who you marry is not as high-pressure a problem. Which is, yeah, the sort of blindspot we would anticipate from Dunham. 

Catherine Referred to as Birdy is one other Dunham story of an obnoxious, privileged white heroine.  

Credit score: Alex Bailey / Amazon Studios

Be it Tiny Furnishings, Ladies, or her 2022 Sundance providing Sharp Stick, Dunham tends to heart her narratives on white heroines oblivious to their privilege or blindspots. Admittedly, among the humor in Dunham’s work comes from the self-aware cringe issue of those blundering protagonists, simply as some criticism of her is the way it’s believed she aligns with them. Nonetheless, such obliviousness will be charming in a teen protagonist (see Emma or Clueless or Eighth Grade), nearly as good coming-of-age tales remind us of our personal awkward levels of selfishness — and possibly pressure us to acknowledge these we have not but outgrown. 

There’s a understanding cringe in Catherine Referred to as Birdy. As its titular trainwreck plunges into ill-fated crushes, brutal barbs, and impulsive acts that carry severe penalties, you could nicely wince. Nonetheless, and maybe as a result of it is a child’s film, Dunham would not push her viewers into the abject unease her work is thought for. A buoyant tone is bolstered by an anachronistic soundtrack, the place breathy singer Misty Miller covers songs like “Younger Turks,” “Lady on Hearth,” “My Boyfriend’s Again,” and “Alright.” This, plus comedy bits the place smallpox and dowry negotiations are performed for laughs urge us to cackle, whether or not Birdy is masking a would-be beau in pigeons or fending off one other by setting an outhouse on fireplace. On this film, privilege protects Birdy from severe penalties and us from having to confront the grim realities this story dances round. 

Is Catherine Referred to as Birdy acceptable for teenagers?

Catherine Referred to as Birdy is a buoyantly entertaining romp by teendom within the center ages. Dunham weaves in a contemporary sensibility with its messaging, character arcs, and a touch of queer illustration in a supporting character. Whereas the movie touches on grownup matters like miscarriage, misogyny, organized marriages, and intercourse, Dunham’s intelligent screenplay is playful quite than provocative. True to the angle of her naive however observant heroine, the movie avoids showcasing mature content material in lieu of suggesting its affect by character reactions. So, quite than a graphic shot of start, Dunham focuses on the husband bolstering his spouse bodily and emotionally. Nonetheless, the movie is frank about menstruation, not shying away from revealing Birdy’s blood-stained britches and the rags she resolutely hides to stave off being seen as a girl. But when your child has seen Turning Pink, they’re in all probability prepared for Catherine Referred to as Birdy. 

For higher and worse, Catherine Referred to as Birdy is a true-to-Dunham joint. Specializing in an oblivious and privileged, wealthy, white lady, it leans into cringe comedy — however not to date that it will alienate youngsters or make their grown-ups blanch. (Although it’s your decision a solution prepared to clarify what a virgin is.) The movie comes alive with crackling dialogue and a charismatic forged who deliver gentle into this darkish age. Between the mischievous appeal of Bella Ramsey and the Hollywood-minded alterations Lena Dunham has comprised of Karen Cushman’s novel of the identical title, Catherine Referred to as Birdy is a coming-of-age comedy that is certain to please.

Catherine Referred to as Birdy made its world premiere on the 2022 Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant within the Particular Shows slate. The movie will open in theaters Sept. 23, then come to Prime Video on Oct. 7.