Ladybird & Bella

I just got home after watching Greta Gerwig's film "Lady Bird." It impacted me enough to warrant comment & consideration to reawaken this medium.

I went into the film knowing little. I had heard that it was by a lady director, which is sadly worth mentioning, given that women being free to direct shouldn't be a notable aspect. And that it was getting some attention as being a good film. I liked the sound of both of those without wanting to know more and have expectations as to the content of the film. I like being surprised and having to pay attention to what is going on to understand the context of the story.

Lady Bird is a coming of age arc of a Sacramento catholic high school student in the early 2000's. Catherine MacPherson wants to be known as "Lady Bird," and wants more than the stagnant promises of her hometown. She doesn't fit into the preppy wealth of her classmates in the school - her parents scrimp & save to allow her the opportunity of a good education in a safe environment.
There is a tension between Catherine & her mother as their relationship shifts through Catherine wanting to have the freedom to explore who she is & might become. Her mother wants to help her daughter achieve her goals, but there is only so much she can do. Both are frustrated by the family financial situation not allowing them breathing room to indulge Catherine's dreams and aspirations. Her mother tries to keep her daughter grounded in realistic expectations - Lady Bird, as Catherine insists she be called, is not an exceptional student, and the family doesn't have the money to pay for an out of state education in New York that she wants.

Catherine feels trapped & cornered, and lashes out at her mother's criticisms as being unsupportive. Neither mother or daughter can find the right words to communicate, and often the wrong choices of words are used instead. Both characters are flawed, neither one is the villain, and the dynamics are painfully real at times. I admire how the writing and actors mesh to form a dimensional cast of characters.  The film has some powerful portrayals of relationship dynamics among friends, dating, cliques, parents, & authority figures at the school. The editing is efficient in showing important moments to show the impressions of these on screen without dragging out the length of the film.

The complicated relationship of the mother & daughter really hits home. The actions of Catherine's mother demonstrate her love for her daughter, and Catherine knows this, and knows that she is asking more than her family can provide. But Catherine wants desperately to be able to have such things, partially so that she can demonstrate back how much their sacrifices have paid off. But meanwhile, she is a teenager with dreams, nothing to show for them yet, and is frustrated with her present situation and the slimness of her chance of ever escaping the fate of a mundane lifestyle.

This movie reminded me of how much I should appreciate my parents for all they have done for me. Lady Bird ends on a note that just feels apt, life happens like that. Endings are a hard thing to stick, & I was okay with where it landed. It took me the drive home to sort out and marvel on how it was done. I probably will not watch it again, but it was well done & a story conveyed well. I am happy it was made & hope that it inspires others to tell their own stories that only they can show.


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Recently, I revisited the film "Bella." It also deals with the idea of motherhood & how difficult it is to consider raising a child when you are barely scraping to support yourself. I like how this film deals with family, food, and futbol. And how the three are not mutually exclusive interests. The family in this movie is so full of joy, compassion, and love that I enjoy seeing its portrayal every time. For such a short window in the movie, it is memorable and important.

The majority of "Bella" takes place in the course of a day in New York. A waitress reports in late for a job and is fired by the owner. The owner's brother is the head chef, and follows the girl out to find out why she was late & learns it was due to her finding out that she was pregnant & has nobody in her life on which she can lean on for support. The chef asks if she needs a friend with whom to talk about this situation, given her earlier admission. He quietly listens as she tells about her background of how she got here in this situation, and explore her options in the future in regards to a new job & what to do with the pregnancy.

Through the course of the day, both the chef & the waitress learn more about each other's past lives and how their paths led them to where they intersected that day. It is a quiet movie, and it shows things rather than telling. And the images used convey the emotion of the story very well. Bella means beautiful, and it is a beautifully simple film.

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Both films made me cry
For this I am not ashamed
Sometimes life is pain