Lady Bird

There's a section in Francis Ha where Greta Gerwig's character visits her parents (played by Gerwig's actual parents) in Sacramento (Gerwig's actual hometown). It's not so surprising then to see Lady Bird dealing with a subject and set in a location that is clearly very familiar to the director. At its core, the film is about that key moment in many teenager's lives where they begin to develop nostalgia and a love for the people and places they used to know and understand. In particular, its about Lady Bird's parents and the relationship she has with her mother. The film is strongest when the main family are all together, celebrating Christmas or arguing over finances and college tuition fees.

Running alongside that are glimpses into Lady Bird's school life and her final year at high school along with all the adolescent thrills that come with it. It certainly works as a coming of age film, despite hitting some familiar beats, but it fails to capatalise on the relationship between her parents more and for that reason it occasionally feels like the film lacks focus.

It comes together nicely at the end however, it brings back the family element well even if it did seem like it was warming the bench for a little too long. Much like Lady Bird herself, the film is angsty and funny in all the right places, but every now and then it doesn't know where it wants to go. More than anything though, it has got me incredibly excited to see what Greta Gerwig will produce in the future because  beyond the comedy she is able to capture some very human moments.