LADY BIRD is too relatable to me, in the best sense
In 2012, I stumbled into a movie called No Strings Attached starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. The movie itself is a little too tacky for my taste, and I should know because, I LOVE rom-com. But from what I’ve taken from that horrendous movie is the presence of Mindy Kaling, and the girl who’s becoming one of the most influential voices in cinema (and my heart) today, Greta Gerwig.
Since that moment, I began to hear the murmurs of her name even more, from the mumblecore scene to the news of what would’ve been the spin-off of How I Met Your Mother, How I Met Your Dad. When it was reported to have failed, it was a shame. But little did I know, she’s about to storm my ass off with Frances Ha and Mistress America — two films that she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach, her lover (and also a director or whatever). In both of those movies, they discuss about a lot of things, but mostly about growing up despite the difficulty of going into adulthood, and the messy intricacy of staying true to your identity as a human and social being living in this giant mess of a world. Both funny, both endearing, and both nicely written. I think to myself, “This awkward-ass woman is about to change my fucking life…” And she did, with Lady Bird.
Taking place in Sacramento, which is Gerwig’s hometown, we see Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson; bored out of her mind and clueless about how the world works because after all, she’s still a high school senior. This movie tells about the relationship of mother and daughter, which sometimes is so overlooked or over-the-top. Last time that kind of movie had an impact on me were Terms of Endearment and Steel Magnolias. Both released in the 80s. So, quite long, actually. But they just cover about the sentimentality of it, and never really about the flummoxing erraticism of the relationship itself — the cry, the laughter, the anger, the doubts — every emotion possible.
Finally being able to watch it at a coffee shop with my dear friend while she works, I went in with no expectations regardless of watching the trailer or clips, reading reviews about it, and seeing people on Twitter reacting to it, over and over and over again. What I did not prepare was the movie is filled with a myriad of lovely portrayals of everything you need to know in going into the life of adulthood. It is every bit of mundanely odd and funny as it is every bit of mundanely magnificent and heartbreaking.
LADY BIRD has managed to be an omnipresent love letter for every individual who’s watching the movie. It’s like if you peel off each layer of an onion, there will be another layer, and another one, and another one coming. Religion, family problems, boy problems, financial issues, female friendship, theater, letting go, et cetera — every person who watches this would have a different reaction or memory to it yet it still would be as meaningful. One specific character that I seem to be very related to is Danny (played by Manchester by the Sea’s Lucas Hedges) — the first dream boat of Lady Bird’s life. He’s nice, he’s cute, and he’s…one other thing (you’ll have to see it for yourself, won’t you?). Anyway, I have to applaud Saoirse Ronan for bringing this fully realized character to life. I cannot fathom how understatedly great she really is in here.
Beyond everything, the center of this movie is and will always be about the relationship that Lady Bird has with her mother. Though mine has nothing in common with Lady Bird, the essence of it all is still the same: fear, insecurity, and profound love that sometimes doesn’t really translate well in person. The way she lives with her randomly spasmodic decisions and how her mother reacts from seeing her behavior is confoundedly relatable. I would’ve acted like that in my teenage years — I had (still have, maybe?) the same exact emotion, though I wouldn’t even dare of getting out of a moving car nor painting my hair pink in any given day.
In the end, for Lady Bird; New York has always been the dream. Which is where I come in, all gross because of the crying and the aching ambition that has glowed again within my heart. We both have the similar aspiration, interest, obliviousness, and how it all goes out in our heads. I can’t wait for it to be happening to me soon. Even though in the future, we all know that the aforementioned dream will soon dissolve into a monotonous routine, a harsh reality that we all would get sick of. Then maybe, the thought of home wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Lady Bird gets that, and I hope that someday, I will get that too.
