Bailey seeks attention and adventure elsewhere
Synopsis
Bailey lives with her brother Hunter and her father Bug, who raises them alone in a squat in North Kent. Bug doesn’t have much time to devote to them. Adapted for Fontaines D.C.: Bug (2024). I love Andrea Arnold – her films always have a big impact on me, and while they are often painful and emotionally challenging, they always have a lot of love, vulnerability and connection.
Their moments of joy and relief became mine
Bird definitely took me through almost every emotion on the spectrum, and this is what I think film/art does at its best. At first, I’m embarrassed to admit* that I found the violence these young people are subjected to and the conditions they live in both heartbreaking and shocking. Being drawn into the complexity of their relationships and circumstances is all-encompassing, so I found myself drawn to the story, the messages and the incredibly fascinating characters whose lives we get to see a part of. I was completely engrossed in the main character and “Bird”, but also in his father, siblings and mother, and I inevitably felt the level of empathy and compassion was overwhelming in every way.
So did their hurt and confusion, fear and anger
This is a testament to both the incredible cast (mostly unknown or unknown actors), Arnold’s skill and the contribution of each person to the combination. The soundtrack to a film is always a big part of Arnold’s work, and while they were a bit more familiar to me than usual (his films often introduce me to musicians and artists I’ve never heard of before, which is great!), the combined collection played as important a role as the film itself. I recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed Arnold’s previous work, as well as those who appreciate Mike Leigh and Ken Loach. I completely understand that it’s not what some moviegoers/film lovers want from a film.
I don’t usually like that kind of surrealism/type and I’d still say it didn’t work for me personally
But whatever your taste, I still think it’s impossible not to engage deeply with Bird, and it’s truly a film that most people should see. One thing I’d like to point out is that unlike his other films (I think?), Arnold contains elements of magical realism and more visual metaphors (?). BUT it didn’t take away from the rest, and I kind of ‘got on board’ a little bit by transitioning into MR, so it was affective and mostly appreciated. My favorite moments are with Bug (played by Barry Keogh) and when he interacts with his kids, friends and girlfriend.
I hope you find warmth, love and beauty in it too
I laughed and cried, I cringed and felt my insides glow at various points in Bird. Definitely worth the persistence if you’re not convinced at first.* I’m very lucky in my home environment and the relatively low poverty and occasional violence).