British filmmaker Andrea Arnold is known for her films like American Honey and Fish Tank — social realist dramas with a discovery of a lead and a high-profile supporting actor. Her latest, Bird, follows the same formula, featuring one of the best child performances of the year and an impactful turn from rising star Barry Keoghan (Saltburn, Eternals). It’s imperfect, but Arnold has delivered another compelling portrait of modern youth.
Bird Review
Bird follows a young girl who grows up with her brother and single father as she becomes disillusioned with the fractured and unstable nature of her family life. On its surface, Bird is a more conventional coming-of-age story than usual for Arnold, but it has the human touch that elevates and sets the filmmaker’s work apart.
The youth of the protagonist may cause some to levy accusations of poverty porn against Bird, but Arnold’s approach to these characters does not feel condescending whatsoever. It never feels like Arnold is asking the audience to pity the characters; instead, it feels like she is calling attention to the universality of these emotions and experiences, even in what is considered the fringes of society.
However, some of the most interesting aspects of Bird are those that explore LGBTQIA+ themes. Arnold never goes so far as approaching queerness directly — there’s no romance element — but these themes are very much an essential undercurrent throughout the movie in the form of the protagonist’s apparent struggles with gender dysphoria. It captures a different yet still candid aspect of the queer experience.
Where Bird starts to fall apart is its subplot about a kind stranger (Franz Rogowski, Passages) the protagonist encounters. Although this storyline ties into the central narrative and its thematic parallels to the protagonist’s journey are obvious, it lacks the same momentum as the main story. It is intriguing and shows potential, but it feels frustratingly underdeveloped.
Keoghan gives a very against-type turn as the protagonist’s father. Although he plays to an archetype — the well-meaning dad who had a kid too young but still wants to hold onto his youth — Keoghan brings the charm and vulnerability to the role he needs to make it his own. It doesn’t feel exaggerated, and he strikes the balance well between likable and flawed. Conversely, Rogowski is solid but largely does the same schtick he has played for much of his career.
However, the true breakout star of Bird is young actress Nykiya Adams, whose performance is filled with nuance. It’s far from the type of rambunctious performance audiences may be used to from the coming-of-age genre, with an uncommon maturity that makes the character all the more resonant. Yet, it doesn’t feel like she’s stretching — she doesn’t seem like a young kid spouting dialogue with a poeticism beyond her years — and that is as much a testament to Arnold’s strong writing and directing as it is to Adams’s perfectly low-key performance.
Bird is also excellent from a technical standpoint, although no one should be surprised, given the precedent of Arnold’s filmography. It’s a beautiful blend of the grittiness of a social realism drama with the childlike innocence of the elements of magical realism. A significant contributor to this success is cinematographer Robbie Ryan, who has collaborated several times not only with Arnold but also with other influential social realist filmmakers like Ken Loach. His work looks stunning, immersing viewers in the unique worldview of the characters.
Is Bird worth watching?
Bird doesn’t quite reach the heights of Andrea Arnold’s earlier work, but it still shows many of her hallmarks: a wonderfully humanistic touch, an aesthetically pleasing visual style, and strong performances. Its refreshing perspective makes it stand out from the numerous coming-of-age movies with similar stories.
Bird hits theaters on November 8.
Bird Review — Barry Keoghan and Nykiya Adams Charm in Refreshing Coming-of-Age Drama
Although some of its subplots feel underdeveloped, Bird is a compelling coming-of-age film thanks to Andrea Arnold’s humanistic touch, stunning visuals, and strong performances from its cast.
