A Complete Guide to 'LadyBird'

Overview

• Lady Bird (2017), written and directed by Greta Gerwig, is a coming-of-age film set in early 2000s Sacramento, California. The film follows Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson as she navigates the complexities of adolescence, including her tumultuous relationship with her mother, her struggle with social class, and her desire to escape her hometown for the cultural allure of the East Coast.
• The film is a semi-autobiographical "love letter" to Gerwig's hometown, exploring themes of identity, family dynamics, and self-acceptance.

Plot Summary

• The film chronicles a year in the life of Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, a high school senior at a Catholic school in Sacramento. Lady Bird dreams of leaving her hometown for the East Coast, where she believes she can find culture and sophistication.
• Her relationship with her mother, Marion, is fraught with tension, largely due to their financial struggles and differing expectations.
• Lady Bird tries to fit in with the wealthy students at her school, but her efforts often lead to conflicts with her best friend, Julie, and her own sense of identity. Over time, she experiences love, heartbreak, and the challenges of growing up.
• The film concludes with Lady Bird leaving for New York, where she begins to appreciate the people and places she left behind, particularly her mother.

Key Moments

Opening Scene:

• Lady Bird and Marion argue about college prospects while driving. In a dramatic act of rebellion, Lady Bird jumps out of the moving car, symbolising her desire to escape both her mother's control and her hometown.
• This moment sets the tone for their ongoing conflict, rooted in their different expectations and dreams: "Your Dad and I will barely be able to afford in-state tuition."

Lady Bird's First Kiss:

• Lady Bird feels elated after sharing her first kiss with Danny, only to discover later that he is gay. This moment shatters her romantic idealism and contributes to her understanding of the complexities of love and identity.
• The scene also subtly highlights Danny's internal struggle with societal expectations, as he later confesses to Lady Bird: "You couldn't possibly understand, I can't let anyone know."

Thanksgiving with Danny's Family:

• Lady Bird visits Danny's affluent family, which contrasts with her modest upbringing. The experience deepens her insecurity about social class and fuels her desire to be accepted by the wealthy students at her school.
• Her lie about living in a wealthy neighbourhood, "I wished I lived in that house," underscores her internal conflict between her reality and the life she aspires to.

Prom Night Epiphany:

• On the way to prom, Lady Bird realises she values her true friends more than fitting in with the popular crowd. She asks to be dropped off at Julie's house, and the two attend the prom together, reaffirming their friendship.
• This moment marks a significant turning point in Lady Bird's journey towards self-acceptance.

Final Scene:

• After arriving in New York, Lady Bird reflects on her past, calls home, and leaves an emotional voicemail for her mother, expressing her love and newfound appreciation for her upbringing: "But I wanted to tell you. I love you. Thank you, I'm... thank you."
• This marks her transition into adulthood and acceptance of her identity.

Character Overview

Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson:

• A rebellious and ambitious teenager, Lady Bird is determined to break free from her hometown and carve out her own identity. Her journey is one of self-discovery and acceptance: "Do you think I look like I'm from Sacramento?" (Lady Bird).
• Her changing self-perception is symbolised in the final scene when she reclaims her given name: "Hi Mom and Dad, it's me. Christine. It's the name you gave me. It's a good one."

Marion McPherson:

• Marion is a hardworking nurse and Lady Bird's mother who struggles to balance her love for her daughter with her desire to prepare her for a harsh world. Their relationship is central to the film: "I want you to be the very best version of yourself that you can be."
• However, her practicality often comes across as critical, such as when she scolds Lady Bird for her appearance: "You can't look like a rag because that makes us look like rags."

Julie Steffans:

• Julie is Lady Bird's loyal best friend, but her loyalty is often overshadowed by her desire to fit in with the popular crowd. Their friendship represents the true emotional core of Lady Bird's high school experience.
• Julie's sadness when Lady Bird distances herself reveals the pain of being left behind: "With her new best friend. She thinks she's too cool for theatre."

Danny O'Neill:

• Danny is Lady Bird's first boyfriend, who later reveals that he is gay.
• His character highlights the themes of hidden identities and the societal pressures of conformity: "You couldn't possibly understand, I can't let anyone know."
• This revelation is a poignant moment that deepens Lady Bird's understanding of the complexities of identity.

Kyle Scheible:

• Kyle is Lady Bird's second love interest, who embodies the detached, "too cool to care" attitude. His relationship with Lady Bird underscores her struggle between authenticity and social acceptance.
  • Kyle's dismissal of Lady Bird's feelings highlights his emotional distance: "Do you have any awareness about how many civilians we've killed since invasion in Iraq started?" to which Lady Bird replies:

"SHUT UP. SHUT UP. Different things can be sad. It's not all war."

Film Techniques

Technique	Example/Explanation
Cinematography	The use of warm, nostalgic lighting throughout the film enhances Lady Bird's sense of longing and sentimentality toward her hometown.
Editing	The film's editing highlights adolescences' fragmented, episodic nature, using quick cuts to move between significant moments in Lady Bird's senior year.
Soundtrack and Score	The soundtrack features both contemporary and classic songs that capture the mood of the early 2000s, reinforcing the film's period setting.
Dialogue	The sharp, often humorous dialogue reflects the film's exploration of generational conflict and teenage angst, particularly in Lady Bird's and Marion's exchanges.
Production Design	The authentic representation of early 2000s Sacramento, from the suburban homes to the Catholic school, grounds the film in its specific cultural context.

General Vision and Viewpoint (GVV)

• The general vision and viewpoint of Lady Bird presents a nuanced exploration of the tensions between aspiration and acceptance.
• The film oscillates between moments of conflict and reconciliation, particularly in the mother-daughter relationship, to depict a world that is challenging yet ultimately hopeful.
• Lady Bird's desire to leave Sacramento for the East Coast represents her yearning for a more sophisticated life, free from the limitations of her upbringing. Her constant struggle with her mother reflects the broader tension between personal ambition and familial duty.
• Marion's practical concerns, such as when she scolds Lady Bird for being careless with her uniform ("You can't look like a rag because that makes us look like rags."), are often misunderstood by Lady Bird as criticisms of her as a person. Yet, despite their conflicts, the film suggests that love and understanding can eventually bridge the gap between their differing visions.
• The hopeful note of the film is most evident in Lady Bird's final actions. After reaching New York, she begins to appreciate her past, recognising the love and sacrifices her mother made for her.
• This is encapsulated in her emotional voicemail to Marion, where she expresses gratitude and love: "But I wanted to tell you. I love you. Thank you, I'm... thank you."
• The film's viewpoint is rooted in the reality of imperfect relationships, highlighting that while life is filled with struggles, it is also rich with opportunities for reconciliation and personal growth.

Theme or Issue

Mother-Daughter Relationships:

• The complex relationship between Lady Bird and Marion is central to the film. Their interactions are filled with both love and conflict, highlighting the challenges of navigating familial expectations and personal growth.
• The scene where Lady Bird jumps out of the car during an argument symbolises her desire for independence and foreshadows the emotional distance that later develops between them: "I want you to be the very best version of yourself that you can be." (Marion).

• This tension is further explored in their dressing room conversation, where Lady Bird asks, "But do you like me?" to which Marion hesitantly responds, "I want you to be the very best version of yourself you can be."

Social Class and Identity:

• Lady Bird's struggle with her social status is a recurring theme, as she often feels ashamed of her family's modest means.
• Her attempts to fit in with the wealthier students at her school, such as lying about her address, underscore her insecurities and the societal pressures of class: "I wished I lived in that house."
• Her relationship with Kyle also reflects her internal conflict with wealth and identity, as he claims to dislike money despite attending a private school: "But doesn't Catholic school cost money?"

Coming of Age:

• Lady Bird is a quintessential coming-of-age story that follows Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson's journey from adolescence to adulthood. Through her relationships—with her first love, Danny, and her best friend, Julie—Lady Bird grapples with identity, belonging, and the desire for independence.
• Her experiences reveal the complexities of growing up, culminating in her acceptance of her true self. By reclaiming her given name, Christine, as she leaves for New York, Lady Bird symbolises her maturity and recognition of how her Sacramento roots have shaped her identity.
• The film poignantly captures the tension between seeking independence and appreciating one's origins.

Cultural Context

Lady Bird is set in early 2000s Sacramento, California, a period and place marked by economic disparity, evolving social values, and the post-9/11 American landscape. The film explores several key cultural themes:

Social Class:

• Lady Bird's constant awareness of her family's financial limitations is central to the narrative. She frequently refers to herself as being from the "wrong side of the tracks" and is acutely conscious of the social divide between her and the wealthier students at her Catholic school.
• Her mother, Marion, stresses the importance of maintaining appearances, especially given her father's unemployment: "We can't treat our clothes like this... your father isn't going to get a job if you look like rags."
• Lady Bird's efforts to fit in with the wealthier students, such as lying about her address, underscore her internal conflict between her modest upbringing and the affluent lifestyle she envies.

Power and Rebellion:

• The film captures Lady Bird's rebellion against the power structures in her life, particularly her relationship with her mother and the expectations imposed by her Catholic school.
• Her decision to name herself "Lady Bird" and her defiant behaviour, such as jumping out of a moving car during an argument, reflect her desire to assert control over her own identity: "It's my name. I gave it to myself."
• This rebellion extends to broader societal norms, as seen in her vocal opposition to a pro-life speaker at her school, which results in her suspension.

Gender and Identity:

• The film also touches on gender norms and the roles expected of men and women. Lady Bird and her mother momentarily bond over their love for fashion, reflecting traditional gender stereotypes.
• However, these norms are also challenged, such as when Lady Bird discovers her boyfriend Danny is gay, shattering her romantic ideals.
• Additionally, the film addresses the emotional struggles of men, like Father Leviatch and Lady Bird's father, highlighting how societal expectations can prevent them from expressing vulnerability.