8/10 - Most films set in medieval times have a "brown" tinge to them. This film however is colourful and bright - and that's not even my favourite thing about it. I think think this is one of the best things Lena Dunham has ever done, I always liked "Girls" but was never part of the frenzy, more a casual viewer. But this film is really special, Bella Ramsey is so talented as is the whole cast. It also does the rare thing of being a young adult story that teens and tweens can watch with their parents. There's nothing in there that's really inappropriate or gratuitous. I highly recommend this film!
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jojules16 January 2023
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henry8-38 October 2022In muddy medieval Britain, Birdy played by Bella Ramsey, is a free spirited and frustratingly headstrong 14 years old, busy defying her father, Andrew Scott's attempts to get her married and save the family with a dowry from a rich suitor, however ill suited they might be. She's having none of it.
Using sharp, witty and very 21st century dialogue, Lena Durham has created a funny and sweet medieval coming of age comedy / drama which at its centre is the wonderful and shining Ramsey. She is also well supported by a terrific British cast including Scott, Billie Piper and the excellent Lesley Sharp as the nanny everyone would dream of having. The words are the thing here though and it's unlikely that you'd watch this and not have a smile on your face afterwards. Nice soundtrack as well. -
DansLaLuna13 October 2022Enough people have gone over the plot so I won't touch on that. I did not read the book, but was excited for this movie when I saw the trailer. It's obvious from the trailer that we are not to expect a history lesson or music by Thomas Moore. The entire cast is wonderful and Bella Ramsey is a joy in this role. Do I think a young woman of that time would get away with acting the way she does, NO! Were girls forced to marry men they didn't want to, pretty much always. RELAX, It's a dreamy movie of "what if a girl could actually take control of her destiny, rather than be treated like a sheep?" Because, let's face it, women were nothing but pawns back in those days, and we haven't come a great deal farther since. Sit back and enjoy it.
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Birdy's a young girl, almost a woman, a bit naïve of all the world in which she's living, but she's got to grow up quick, a new clock's primed and starts to tick, she now has value and a modesty for taking. So arrangements are prepared to sell her off, it makes her quite annoyed, it makes her scoff, so she wriggles and she squirms, to avert taking new terms, prevent her moving to a strangers dirty trough. But her father's most insistent she'll soon pack, for disobeying he metes out several hand whacks, potential suitors are arranged, so she presents as quite deranged, then Shaggy Beard, decides he'd like to have a crack. You're just pleased this is a tale set in the past, a time of yore, so long ago, a long time passed, well you'd like to think that's true, but you know, and I know too, that it all depends upon the cards that you've been caste.
Great acting, great dialogue, not quite as laugh out loud funny as I'd hoped it would be but enjoyable nonetheless - to a point, which it makes very well. There's a very good film called 'What Will People Say' that's worth tracking down if you have the time. -
beaverhandyman5 November 2022Very good and extremely funny and well written. The only character I did not like, was The Suitor played by Russell Brand. I think his acting skills have always been horrible. That's just in my opinion. Every time I watch a movie or show, and find out that he is in it, for me personally, it seems to take away from the story itself. This story however, was extremely well written and the characters were very thought out. The directing is excellent and the cast is very talented. Even though I did not like one of the characters I still highly recommend seeing it. I would have given it more stars, but there was a few times that the storyline lacked in my opinion not much but a little bit.
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ThurstonHunger13 October 2022For some reason this reminded me of a long ago ill-fated TV show, "When Things Were Rotten." It was a Mel Brooks production so it had slapstick and plenty of transplanted vibes from the current era into a Robin Hood scenario, I've not read the YA novel that Lena Durham based this on, I'm guessing that was mostly a genteel take on not-so-gentle girls fighting back against the chattel calls of the day.
This film has a TV show kind of flair, cameos and quick quip humor. And it has slaptick/fartjoke humor, but it's all in good fun. So things are Mirthful, and yes things are Inclusive, and that shouldn't prevent one from enjoying the sweet silliness.
The film is by and large safe, although the birthing techniques then were not, and that was a bit of barrier for my wife, along with some of the bawdy and the bile (or other bodily fluids).
Andrew Scott is really really good from Sherlock to Fleabag to one of the more enjoyable takes here as a sitcom-style Dad.
Seems like the film was a lark to work on, and a lark to enjoy. Maybe listen with headphones, to catch the dialog zips and zings best, especially if your ears are like mine and bit too Amurrican. A pox upon me I guess, but just a small pox. -
"I am dying, it is plain to see." Catherine (Bella Ramsey)
Although that is the cry of 14-year-old medieval English Catherine greeting her first period, it is the cry of all young girls meeting womanhood, a blend of suffering and mystery and finally joy should it mean a child can be in the future. Writer/director Lena Dunham has crafted a rollicking YA story, set in 1290, of a feisty young girl who could fight amd survive in any century where independence and equality are her motivations.
Although Catherine Called Birdy is derived from Karen Cushman's novel, it is a universally charming oft-told tale of a modestly good-looking rebel who fights the medieval tradition of marrying off young females to improve the family lot through money and title. The egregious gender-role motif is prevalent but with Dunham's light touch.
Catherine fights her indolent yet likeable dad, Lord Rollo (Andrew Scott, so effective he was as Moriarty in Sherlock), when he attempts to remedy his flagrant abuse of their fortune by marrying her off. Catherine shouts, "Your villagers are allowed to marry where they will, but your daughter is sold like a cheese for your profit."
Catherine's cheeky voiceover narration (evocative of Heath Ledger's A Knight's Tale and Pippi Longstocking) from a diary she keeps for her monk brother is an endearing feature of this, dare I call it, romcom: About kissing, she opines, "Might it not be as vile as we once thought?" Acknowledging being saved from a marriage to old "Shaggy Beard," she exclaims, "My gratitude does not mean I have lost my fight." A quick-witted fighter she is.
Her teen-age rebellion echoes down the centuries, as true today as it was almost a millennia ago. For adults, Catherine Called Birdy is a romp in witty language and ancient mores, recreated with loving good cheer from a spirited woman much of our time, Lena Dunham. -
okpilak8 December 2022This is a movie that will probably appeal to a younger audience, but I will never forget the vivid description of what Birdy thought was the birds and the bees. Birdy's father desperately needs money, and marrying off Birdy is the only way he figures can work. And Birdy is equally determined that she will not marry under duress. Birdy carries with her a title, so she has currency. There is a lot of humor involved, most of it light hearted and towards the latter part of the movie, there is narration as if it is stage direction. There is a certain sweetness to the movie, showing the predicament women faced in 13th Century England.
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krumblburgh7 October 2022How on Earth is this film currently rated 5.9? I'm giving it a ten in the hopes of averting the universe from tilting sideways with injustice. The writing is sharp, funny, often quietly potent. The cast is perfect and the cinematography, set and costume design excellent. Is the low rating because the film is anachronistic? Did some people think this was an historical reenactment? Obviously it's not because the casting is colour-blind, because that would be monumentally stupid. Bella Ramsey knocks every line, scowl, and flounce out of the park. A lovely little film, and here's hoping Bella Ramsey, already one of the very best actors of her generation, goes on to have a long, meandering and celebrated career.
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ashfordofficial19 October 20221. Brilliant direction and writing from Lena Dunham and wonderful performances from the entire cast. Bella Ramsey was outstanding and she delivered a flawless and natural performance.
A funny, joyous, sad, relatable and wholesome movie with so much heart and warmth.
2. Brilliant direction and writing from Lena Dunham and wonderful performances from the entire cast. Bella Ramsey was outstanding and she delivered a flawless and natural performance.
A funny, joyous, sad, relatable and wholesome movie with so much heart and warmth.
3. Brilliant direction and writing from Lena Dunham and wonderful performances from the entire cast. Bella Ramsey was outstanding and she delivered a flawless and natural performance.
A funny, joyous, sad, relatable and wholesome movie with so much heart and warmth. -
I was so excited to hear that this book was being adapted into a film! And when I saw what a strong cast it had, I was even more excited.
The excitement passed about 15 minutes into the film. In it, Birdy is a far cry from the spunky young heroine from the book. She is whiny and selfish, and not much else. Bella Ramsay does a good job with a one-note character. But the script loses all the humour of the book.
An excellent supporting cast is pretty much wasted here, and I just found myself wishing it was over. The ending was preposterous and unsatisfying after suffering through almost two hours of lacklustre story.
Do yourself a favour and read the book. The characters are better, brighter and I think you'll find it an all-around a more enjoyable experience. -
ginasharp28 January 2023This was so endearing, touching, funny and heart-warming! I went in to this movie knowing I love "period" movies, I just love this era, but also thinking it may be just an okay movie because it was about a "kid". I was so pleasingly surprised. Yes, it is about a young girl but she is adorable, quirky and funny and wants so much more for her life. I found my self just loving her and her wit, also rooting for her along her journey. Also, the family dynamic is so good! The parents love for each other - aaaahhhh, so nice to watch and her relationship with them was so fun and adoring to watch. Also, the movie is very clean as far as un-necessary sexual scenes / crude lines / violence - so refreshing. Just a fun ride, this movie. In my opinion, a don't MISS!
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ferguson-66 October 2022Greetings again from the darkness. Lena Dunham, the creator of the HBO series, "Girls", is probably not the first name that comes to mind when you think of costume dramedies set in the Middle Ages. However, for her third feature film, the writer-director has adapted Karen Cushman's 1994 YA novel, and in doing so, has shrewdly given Bella Ramsey her first lead role.
Ms. Ramsey (played Lorna Luft in JUDY, 2019) plays Lady Catherine, aka Birdy, and is on screen almost the entire time. Birdy is a rebellious 14-year-old who is a master at skirting all responsibilities while finding/causing mischief throughout her village. Birdy is quite a spirited character, one who is properly self-absorbed for her age. The story is structured around her diary entries, and keep in mind this takes place in the year 1290. A raucous mud fight between Birdy and her friends opens the movie and sets the stage for the filmmaker's approach to the novel - comedy trumps drama.
Birdy learns that her father (Andrew Scott) has depleted the family finances to the point where the only option is to marry off Birdy to the highest bidder. Of course, this won't be easy, as her father describes her as "one step away from a leper", and her brother's description is even more graphic. One obstacle is her not-so-secret crushing on her Uncle George (Joe Alwyn), and mostly we get to watch as Birdy cleverly repels/outmaneuvers each potential suitor, solidifying her lack of interest in getting married. In Medieval times, women were like bartering chips - a family asset not to squander; and soon enough, Birdy is engaged to Sir Paul Henry Murgaw (Paul Kaye, one of the film's highlights), whom she calls "Shaggy Beard".
Ms. Dunham mines for humor in nearly every scene, and some moments work, while others fall flat. A use of contemporary music accompanies the more modern-day wordplay used by the characters. Supporting work is provided by Billie Piper (Birdy's consistently pregnant mother), Sophie Okonedo (another highlight as George's new rich bride), screen vet David Bradley, and Leslie Sharp (as Birdy's supportive and interesting nursemaid). There is even an odd cameo from Russell Brand.
Despite some of the strained comedy playing directly to the audience, it's a treat to watch Bella Ramsey embrace the role of Birdy. The film has the feel of a coming-of-age story, but it's mostly her father who seems to grow up ... although Birdy is striving for independence and does reach a certain maturity level by the end. Filmmaker Dunham presents this as a mostly light-natured romp that gives the feeling of a movie with a much more meaningful message buried deep and left unexamined. Regardless, the best parts are really good (including Julian Day's costumes), and the rest kind of drags out a bit.
On Prime Video beginning October 7, 2022. -
merrykate-110 October 2022Overall this was a fairly enjoyable film well acted by the talented cast. However the central plot line has a serious hole: Birdy is being sold into marriage to make up for father's poor money management. However, in England in the Middle Ages, when the plot is explicitly set, brides were given a dowry, not sold for a bride price. The dowry is money taken by a bride into her marriage and it was meant for her protection. If her husband died or he divorced her, the money went with her. A bit of research on the part of the author would have cleared that up quickly. But of course the writer was too interested in making political points to bother with anything like researching the culture she was supposedly portraying. She also made an absolute mockery of midwifery. If you want to make a fantasy film, fine - but don't then set it in a specific time and place without doing any research whatsoever.
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TxMike8 October 2022My wife and I watched this on Amazon streaming. Well she stuck with it only for about 20 minutes but quit when she found the lead character too annoying. I stuck with it and overall found it to be a suitably entertaining story with fairly modern songs and a very quirky, humorous style. Bella Ramsey, who was about 17 or 18 during filming, plays 14-yr-old Catherine who is called Birdy. She is a really good young actress, very authentic in the role. My only issue is she often mumbled some of her lines and it was difficult to catch all she was saying.
Birdie's mom and dad had been trying to have more children but ever since she was born they have all died before or during childbirth. Also dad isn't a very good money manager and they find themselves just about broke. Dad needs to marry off Birdie to a wealthy man who will provide a nice fee. When Birdie in fact discovers she is now entering puberty, and thus 'ripe', she hides it for a while, the playful girl has no interest in marrying an old man and having his children.
So with that the story and all its pratfalls develops. It eventually comes to an interesting conclusion. -
kkmgirl-448-11198826 March 2023Needing something brainless and fluffy to watch, this fit the bill just fine. I'm not bothered by the historical inaccuracies because there are SO much, it reads intentional. The main plot device is inaccurate in itself- a noble lady would carry a dowry into marriage. If she's broke, the best she can hope for is being attractive or titled enough to find a suitor willing to have her... they wouldn't be lined up as portrayed here. I'm not a Lena Dunham fan, but I think this was entertaining and subtle (for Dunham). Although the main character was too naive to truly be a medieval young woman (the whole menstrual bit was farfetched), I understood what the messaging was intending to convey. I always use subtitles which definitely came in handy here as some dialogue was hard to catch and worth catching- for the most part the writing was snappy and humorous. Great casting all around with Dad (Scott) stealing every scene. Bella made a believable tomboy, but it was hard not to remember her as a mini GOT badass. The soundtrack paid homage to my younger years which was cool to hear, except Mazzy Star "Fade Into Me" should never be messed with- it's perfection as it is. I dig Carter Burwell so it made sense I liked the majority of what I heard. The cinematography was lush and beautiful-- a star in it's own right, so high marks there. Is any of this realistic? No. Can it still be enjoyed on a Saturday night in PJs? Yes. Just don't overthink it.
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NanoFrog12 January 2023Bella Ramsey (Lady Mormont at one time) absolutely shines as the rebellious daughter of an impoverished noble family being pawned off to any number of possible wealthy, creepy suitors. Everything is here. Great cast. Wonderful costuming, decent photography BUT the musical soundtrack is abysmal, it is in a word really stupid. The obnoxious soundtrack drags the film down, sometimes way down and puts a pointless stink on an otherwise great little farce, and showcase for Ms Ramsey. She is as always an absolute pleasure to watch and this is a decent, if not exceptional, screen play and portrayal that breaks, or at least bends, the stereotyped mold a bit in this case.
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carmencain9 October 2022Ramsey is a great actress but Dunham made the lead character one dimensional and irritating. She was self centered and showed no empathy that would have been seen in a teen of that time who would have understood her role in the family at the age of 14. This character seemed to be more of this time in her defiance to her elders. She would have not been as naive and defiant as Dunham portrayed her. This could have been so much better is Birdy would have been more dimensional.
The movie is worth watching. Ramsey puts on a great performance with the material she was given. This film was in need of some better character development and a better portrayal of the time period. -
SnoopyStyle16 October 2022It's 1290 England. 14 years old Lady Catherine (Bella Ramsey) is called "Birdy". She is on the verge of womanhood and desperate to maintain her childish lifestyle. Her father Lord Rollo (Andrew Scott) had squandered the family fortune and needs to marry her off for a large dowry. He recruits a series of wealthy suitors. Birdy works to scare them off.
Lena Dunham adapts this from a book and directs it. There is the overarching girl-power modernity to the story. The music is modern. It's a medieval movie done with modern sensibilities. The story does drag a bit in the middle. It needs a more cohesive dramatic flow. At times, it feels like a series of relationship entanglements, one situation after another. There is a bit of rambling. Through it all, the movie has the absolute charms of Bella Ramsey. She has an indomitable spirit which first shone through in Game of Thrones. She puts it over the top. -
play-143-9857507 December 2022We just laughed and laughed. And we loved the ruses Birdy pulled to get out of marrying those oh so dumb men. This film is just full of a huge love of life.
A real joy. In an age when films (even comedies) often follow such standard formulas this film is a true original.
And it's so good that the heroine isn't there because of her beauty. Just just a bright, vivacious 14 year old girl who doesn't want to be sold off into a life of wifehood when men were the bosses (often they still are) and women were possessions.
I am definitely going to watch Catherine Called Birdy again and probably again and again.
And just in case you are wondering, it's a fun watch for men too. I should know. -
JBLOSS31 October 2022I haven't read the book but hopefully it has a plot that makes more sense than the film. The ending is so contrived to end happily that it seems to forget about everything that has gone before. The film has a good cast but frankly Birdy is pretty annoying and lacks a lot of charm and perhaps there were a couple of small laughs during the movie but I don't think I'd regard it as a comedy. It was more a lighthearted drama that also bears little or no resemblance to medieval reality....was that really a bicycle in Birdy's room at the end?! The themes were also hit and miss...why reference the Crusades without actually putting them a bit into context - the horror, the butchery, the religious intolerance - they were presented as some romantic endeavour. It didn't sit well when the film clearly wanted to make some points about inequalities and people's position in society. At best it's whimsical nonsense.
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pchemsurvivor19 November 2022This was just a so-so movie. The best thing about it is Bella Ramsey. She is an absolute gem. They only took a few things from the book that This movie is based on. The book is so much better.
This movie suffers the problem of trying to put modern sensibilities into a historical setting. That doesn't work. When you start trying to put today's politics into medieval England, it just doesn't work. It falls flat.
The scenery is absolutely beautiful. The outside shots are just amazing. Most of the costuming is very good.
It was wonderful seeing Billy piper in this role of the mother. That was unexpected, but a very nice treat. -
tiffanyguest101-792-80993722 January 2023Catherine Called Birdy follows Bella Ramsey as Catherine aka Birdy, who after her father (played by Andrew Scott) realises they are absolutely broke decides to wed his daughter to keep the family and his lavish lifestyle going.
Except Birdy doesn't want that, she doesn't want to marry and have to grow up. She still wants to be free and wild and childish and thus begin her plans to turn off every suitor.
I found this balanced the time of the 1200s really well with having a humorous side in turning away suitors and teenagers being silly combined with the realities of that time. Birdy had men of all ages coming for her hand from 14 all the way to 60s ish, and also her friend Aislyn, also needing to be married has to marry a 9 year old boy at 16. It portrays well the way children especially girls had no power in their futures or who to spend their lives with and the reality that girls at 14 didn't know what sex or periods were at that age.
It was brilliant to see periods spoken about so openly in the show with the dramaticness provided by Birdy and thinking she is dying but also the horror at the fact that she is becoming a 'woman' because of that and thus more marriageable material. The trying to hide it and the sadness at realising this is actually happening felt so relatable and I think is an important thing to show in movies for young girls so they can find relatable experiences and not feel so alone.
There are quite a few familiar British faces in the cast with Billie Piper, Joe Alwyn, David Bradley and Russell Brand and it was so refreshing to see people from the UK take up so much of the cast along with newer and younger stars who will be up and coming stars like Bella Ramsey and Archie Renaux.
The costumes felt very on tone with the time era, I wouldn't be able to say for definite that they would be accurate for the era but they are recognisable to what I would imagine the Medieval times, but they didn't make the cast look utterly gorgeous. It was very shapeless and kind of ugly but really set up the scene.
I highly recommend watching this for a quick and fun movie, it isn't highbrow butis perfect if you want a fun time! -
mainstreet-625399 February 2023Yes indeed, I really respect the effort made by Ms. Dunham. I like how her main character had such a free and independent spirit. The film made a lot of good points about freedom and liberation.
The problems are numerous however as a feature length film; including costuming, hair and makeup, accents, vocal score. If Ms. Dunham felt or thought that was all "camp" and just be in on the laugh, then it should have been funnier and not tried so hard than to make so much social commentary. Perhaps a short or 30 minute film would have worked much better where the narrative is clear and focused and funnier. -
deliabattie8 October 2022It's a shame this film isn't better because it has a great cast and the filming locations in Shropshire provide a gorgeous backdrop.
Unfortunately, the story just seems a little silly and the ending is far-fetched, with the father doing a complete reversal of his previous character. He starts out not even knowing what colour his own daughter's hair is and by the end is suddenly putting her needs first. Really?
I think the film just skews very young and is probably best aimed at 10-13 year olds rather than grown ups. Maybe that audience would enjoy it more than I did.
It's worth a watch just to see how beautiful Stokesay Castle and the Shropshire Hills look on film. More films should be made here.