Telluride and a trailer help build Gerwig hype.
Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut Lady Bird had its engrossing trailer drop at the same time it premiered at TIFF to unanimous praise. The film stars Saoirse Ronan as the rebellious daughter in a fraught mother-daughter relationship with Laurie Metcalf, alongside a cast groomed from a recent stock of critically-acclaimed performances. Gerwig is a great actress and a hell of a writer, but her films can often be over-Baumbached by (who else?) her boyfriend/creative collaborator Noah Baumbach.
With Lady Bird, Gerwig’s unself-conscious kineticism and ear for dialogue finds a grounded and heartfelt home in a well-defined corner of Americana.
Its specificity (applying to colleges) and its broadness (daughters fight with moms) promise a film that reaches its audience deeply and entertains along the way. There’s always sadness underneath Gerwig’s work, but intermingled with hope and humor. With the film under her complete creative control, Lady Bird looks to solidify her as an exciting director to watch.