Bet you didn’t know this, but apparently, Greta Gerwig didn’t enjoy Amy Schumer‘s latest film “I Feel Pretty.” While many of us non-Academy Award-nominated folks can watch a film and trash it without fear of someone secretly recording our every thought, that’s not the case for Gerwig. Recently, during a screening of “I Feel Pretty,” a woman tweeted every reaction Gerwig had to the film…unbeknownst to the filmmaker (tweets compiled via Vulture). And well, it shows that reacting to a film during a screening isn’t a safe space any longer, especially if you’re a famous writer-director.
But that got us thinking about Gerwig’s directorial debut, “Lady Bird.” If Gerwig isn’t the type that enjoys the love story in a typical modern-day rom-com, then revisiting her award-winning film about teenage love might illuminate where the filmmaker’s sensibilities lie. That’s why we found this recent video essay about the meaning of love in “Lady Bird” so interesting.
Sometimes when we look at the next coming-of-age movie, we tend to write it off. We’ll expect the cliches, over explored time and again to tell us the same message. It’s difficult to find a coming-of-age movie that really adds something new to the conversation. We’ve seen enough movies that overgeneralize and compartmentalize the experiences of growing up. Here’s where Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” changes everything.
“Lady Bird” was widely lauded this past year for its writing, performances, and direction. Pretty much every bit of it was great. Maybe not the soundtrack, but you have to stay time period accurate. Laurie Metcalf and Saoirse Ronan are dynamite on screen. And part of that is because they portray an honest, beautiful, and harsh mother/daughter relationship.
In this video essay from A Matter Of Film, we dive headfirst into the subtleties that make “Lady Bird” great. Lady Bird is not just another rebellious teen. Her exploration of who she is might seem cliche but it honestly looks natural. Trying out new friends, new boyfriends; who hasn’t gone through this selfish stage? Lady Bird isn’t our only point of view. Her mother is constantly paying attention. Asking the questions audiences might not have thought of because we wrote it off as yet another trope. Marion calls out Christine’s behaviors, showing love by just paying attention.
“Lady Bird” isn’t just about some nonconformist yearning to break free. The love is in the detail. And Gerwig’s writing pays attention when we might be looking for tropes. As the film goes, maybe paying attention was love all along.