Starring breakout lead Nyikka Adams, Bird tells the story of Bailey, a 12-year-old girl growing up in a squat in North Kent, England with her young father Bug (Barry Keoghan). While Bug and Bailey clearly have a connection their relationship is tested when Bug plans to get married to his new girlfriend, who Bailey is not a big fan of. Bailey also doesn’t like that the new girlfriend has a toddler who Bug seems to care more for than Bailey.
Director Andrea Arnold decides to take this gritty coming of age story and mix it with her own brand of magical realism. The film’s unique setting also allows for the magic to not simply be supernatural but rather that which is found in the nature surrounding North Kent. The magic is seen in nature, particularly birds as Arnold creates the most beautiful images of the film when she turns her lens to the sky and its majesty.
Bailey comes of age she encounters more and more about the nature of people. They move on, they find new love, they protect. To deal with transition she meets a mysterious man named Bird (Franz Rogowski) who seems to be from another time but also seems to fit right in Bailey’s world. Bird’s has a great sense of care for nature and for Bailey. He is the person that appears when Bailey needs to escape the continuous chaos of life with her father and her mother who’s new boyfriend threatens her siblings and her mother. But Bailey also helps Bird by caring for him and placing faith in his intentions. He knows that she will help him and she receives help when she needs it most as well. Its a beautiful story of friendship and our relationship to nature proving that even as you desire to grow up there are aways people to help you through the toughest transitions.
Bird is currently playing at TIFF ’24. For more information, click here.
