Words: Julia Stitely

When Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird was released last year, it captured the hearts of many. For a while, it was the best reviewed movie on Rotten Tomatoes ever. Why the positive feedback?

Lady Bird’s uniqueness comes from the essence of the real life in it. Young and old relate to the film’s characters and story, which makes it unique with other Best Motion Picture contenders. Even if the story focuses on a young female with the name of Lady Bird, growing up in the year of 2002, it makes many see themselves in the character.

Lady Bird, portrayed well by Saoirse Ronan, is going through the same issues many teens are going through today. She deals with college, friends, family, first love, and her acceptance in the world. These issues also remind many adults of what they dealt with during their teenage adolescence.

The mother character, played beautifully by Laurie Metcalf, also can relate to the parents and relate with the challenges of being an adult, including the challenges of finance and parenting.

Teen movies have been around since their popularity sprouted with John Hughes’s movies back in the 1980’s. What makes this film so special above the rest? With teen films, all they focus on is on the teens. They just focus on high school and focus on being young. Lady Bird focuses not just on her, but also how she may feel about adult problems. It isn’t a love story between her and a boy; it is a love story between a mother and daughter.

Teenagers and adults can relate to Lady Bird because it tells the meaningful and true story of life and growing up. With brilliant performances by the entire cast and dialogue that is both real and sobering, the movie stands on its own.

You can see Lady Bird at AMC, but if you’re under the age of 18, you will have to see it with an adult due to its R Rating.

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