I’m glad to be writing again, and I admit that it’s been a long time. In reality, I needed a little push to get me here again, which came surprisingly with Bird. If anything could encapsulate the strangeness of the past two months for me, it would be these gorgeous two hours from director Andrea Arnold that transported me somewhere far away yet familiar. I’m always stuck in a bubble when it comes to coming-of-age films, and I may be even more biased since the best band in the world was a part of this, yet there was something that seized me for the full length of this film that I simply loved. The mixture of genres that, admittedly, seemed strange at times yet never felt unnecessary. It carried its weight and felt as if it would make a special rewatch - whenever that time comes again.
Bird
In a building full of squatters, there comes Bailey (Nykiya Adams), the twelve-year-old daughter of Bug (Barry Keoghan). Bug is aggressive and rampant and is a few days away from marrying his new wife, which Bailey feels rejected and angry by. The heavy emotions that she went through in around a week were too much to handle for any child, yet she unfortunately put up with it. I say, unfortunately, in the sense that you look up to her for taking care of her siblings as her mom’s abusive boyfriend rampages, but you take a breath and remember that those around her have failed. Andrea Arnold captured the feeling of diving into the adult pool as a child with a troubled neighborhood resembling the high hurdles that come to the youth at this age. The video footage provided a realistic account of growing up today, one that isn’t always done correctly, and gave a step into the world of the younger generations.
It is hard to capture where this fits regarding its genre. The obvious answer is that it is coming of age. Yet it had hints of fantasy and adventure that reminded me of Miyazaki films such as My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Spirited Away (2001) in that they are mysterious and intense but caught gorgeously with hidden allegories. The lower class of Britain is rough, with some of the funniest slang you’ll ever hear, but the harsh reality isn’t hidden away. Bailey is quickly growing up and needs to find her wings, or else she may be stuck somewhere she doesn’t want to be. It’s a painful transition in which she has Bird (Franz Rogowski), an older straggler looking for his own wings, in which he was abandoned by his father. Bird feels surreal from the very moment he is introduced as he is typically posted on top of buildings or structures fittingly like a… bird. The feeling of surrealism around him only grows as the film goes on, and by the end, you see where it was headed from the beginning and what he meant to Bailey.
Bailey needs to find her wings. It would be dearly difficult to capture the pain she endured and to keep it intelligently earnest despite the humor and intensity. You truly feel the emotions when they are given to you, and each line is sincere when they need to be. Sincerity is sometimes lost nowadays in many aspects of life; everything is either a joke or too “corny” to dive deep into the heart of each other. David Lynch (Rest Well) showed the utmost sincerity in his films when it came to expressing emotions, even if it may seem silly to some. I know it isn’t everything, and it may seem little, but the understanding of the right time to be funny and when to be earnest clutched onto me. Maybe I’m just an old fart and corny, but I will, regardless, die on the hill that we should all be more sincere with each other.
When you have Fontaines D.C. songs in the soundtrack, you know it’s going to be electric. Bird is a great example of a modern coming-of-age story that doesn't feel disconnected from the reality of growing up today. I’ve mentioned that it will have you laughing but also getting hit with devastating emotions, something that isn’t easy to do. Andrea Arnold does an excellent job in tying in different genres in creating something unique and memorable. A similar experience in emotion could be Submarine (2010), which is absolutely one of my favorites (and should be yours too). I felt captured by Bird, and I wish I got to see it in theaters, but now that Mubi is $0.99 for three months, I finally got to check this one out. If you’re reading this, I hope you check it out too.
“I don’t regret you, D’you hear me?”
omg asad your writing is so thoughtful & effortlessly sincere, i love it! this was a great read and makes me wanna watch bird asap fr
Loved this! I had a feeling you’d enjoy it—it’s raw and really stays with you long after. Always look forward to the newsletters.