40/30
Bailey seeks attention and adventure elsewhere
Plot
Bailey lives with his brother Hunter and father Bug, who is raising them alone in a squat in North Kent. Bug doesn’t have much time to devote to them. Barry Keoghan left Gladiator II (2024) to star in this film.
Edited by Fontaines DC: Bug (2024)
The Bird might seem like a big step for Andrea Arnold, as she moves cautiously into the realm of magical realism from her usual gritty, unflinching naturalistic territory. But ironically, much of what lasts for her is well-trodden ground. There are enjoyable elements, particularly the remarkable debut of protagonist Nykiya Adams, whose confidence is exciting to watch.
The soundtrack, mostly modern British rock and punk, is refreshingly different
It looks gorgeous and vibrant on 16mm, assuming you can handle the absolutely wild hand-held camera movements. There’s some good humor and an often light tone: sometimes kids manage to be kids, amidst the inevitable temptations of being forced to grow up too quickly. But Bird feels pretty aimless for much of its running time.
It lacks imagination in its characters and plot points
Many of the scenes and storylines aren’t very important in their own right, which leads to the feeling that they had to build something explosive that I felt didn’t quite work out. Its setting is strangely fantastical and painfully real at the same time, in a way that bewilders the tone. On the surface, it’s authentic to the director’s experience (which takes place in her childhood neighborhood in Kent) and this adds to the sense that Arnold is telling a rather personal story that may have much more meaning for her than for a general audience.