Catherine Called Birdy

How on Earth is this film currently rated 5.9? I'm giving it a ten in the hopes of averting the universe from tilting sideways with injustice. The writing is sharp, funny, often quietly potent. The cast is perfect and the cinematography, set and costume design excellent. Is the low rating because the film is anachronistic? Did some people think this was an historical reenactment? Obviously it's not because the casting is colour-blind, because that would be monumentally stupid. Bella Ramsey knocks every line, scowl, and flounce out of the park. A lovely little film, and here's hoping Bella Ramsey, already one of the very best actors of her generation, goes on to have a long, meandering and celebrated career.

For some reason this reminded me of a long ago ill-fated TV show, "When Things Were Rotten." It was a Mel Brooks production so it had slapstick and plenty of transplanted vibes from the current era into a Robin Hood scenario, I've not read the YA novel that Lena Durham based this on, I'm guessing that was mostly a genteel take on not-so-gentle girls fighting back against the chattel calls of the day.

This film has a TV show kind of flair, cameos and quick quip humor. And it has slaptick/fartjoke humor, but it's all in good fun. So things are Mirthful, and yes things are Inclusive, and that shouldn't prevent one from enjoying the sweet silliness.

The film is by and large safe, although the birthing techniques then were not, and that was a bit of barrier for my wife, along with some of the bawdy and the bile (or other bodily fluids).

Andrew Scott is really really good from Sherlock to Fleabag to one of the more enjoyable takes here as a sitcom-style Dad.

Seems like the film was a lark to work on, and a lark to enjoy. Maybe listen with headphones, to catch the dialog zips and zings best, especially if your ears are like mine and bit too Amurrican. A pox upon me I guess, but just a small pox.

"I am dying, it is plain to see." Catherine (Bella Ramsey)

Although that is the cry of 14-year-old medieval English Catherine greeting her first period, it is the cry of all young girls meeting womanhood, a blend of suffering and mystery and finally joy should it mean a child can be in the future. Writer/director Lena Dunham has crafted a rollicking YA story, set in 1290, of a feisty young girl who could fight amd survive in any century where independence and equality are her motivations.

Although Catherine Called Birdy is derived from Karen Cushman's novel, it is a universally charming oft-told tale of a modestly good-looking rebel who fights the medieval tradition of marrying off young females to improve the family lot through money and title. The egregious gender-role motif is prevalent but with Dunham's light touch.

Catherine fights her indolent yet likeable dad, Lord Rollo (Andrew Scott, so effective he was as Moriarty in Sherlock), when he attempts to remedy his flagrant abuse of their fortune by marrying her off. Catherine shouts, "Your villagers are allowed to marry where they will, but your daughter is sold like a cheese for your profit."

Catherine's cheeky voiceover narration (evocative of Heath Ledger's A Knight's Tale and Pippi Longstocking) from a diary she keeps for her monk brother is an endearing feature of this, dare I call it, romcom: About kissing, she opines, "Might it not be as vile as we once thought?" Acknowledging being saved from a marriage to old "Shaggy Beard," she exclaims, "My gratitude does not mean I have lost my fight." A quick-witted fighter she is.

Her teen-age rebellion echoes down the centuries, as true today as it was almost a millennia ago. For adults, Catherine Called Birdy is a romp in witty language and ancient mores, recreated with loving good cheer from a spirited woman much of our time, Lena Dunham.

Needing something brainless and fluffy to watch, this fit the bill just fine. I'm not bothered by the historical inaccuracies because there are SO much, it reads intentional. The main plot device is inaccurate in itself- a noble lady would carry a dowry into marriage. If she's broke, the best she can hope for is being attractive or titled enough to find a suitor willing to have her... they wouldn't be lined up as portrayed here. I'm not a Lena Dunham fan, but I think this was entertaining and subtle (for Dunham). Although the main character was too naive to truly be a medieval young woman (the whole menstrual bit was farfetched), I understood what the messaging was intending to convey. I always use subtitles which definitely came in handy here as some dialogue was hard to catch and worth catching- for the most part the writing was snappy and humorous. Great casting all around with Dad (Scott) stealing every scene. Bella made a believable tomboy, but it was hard not to remember her as a mini GOT badass. The soundtrack paid homage to my younger years which was cool to hear, except Mazzy Star "Fade Into Me" should never be messed with- it's perfection as it is. I dig Carter Burwell so it made sense I liked the majority of what I heard. The cinematography was lush and beautiful-- a star in it's own right, so high marks there. Is any of this realistic? No. Can it still be enjoyed on a Saturday night in PJs? Yes. Just don't overthink it.

8/10 - Most films set in medieval times have a "brown" tinge to them. This film however is colourful and bright - and that's not even my favourite thing about it. I think think this is one of the best things Lena Dunham has ever done, I always liked "Girls" but was never part of the frenzy, more a casual viewer. But this film is really special, Bella Ramsey is so talented as is the whole cast. It also does the rare thing of being a young adult story that teens and tweens can watch with their parents. There's nothing in there that's really inappropriate or gratuitous. I highly recommend this film!