Saoirse Ronan was only fourteen when she was nominated for her first Oscar, Best Actress for Atonement. She’s been nominated for the same award with Lady Bird, although if this film’s any indication, she would share the spotlight with Greta Gerwig, the writer and director.

Certainly, authenticity shines throughout, given what on the surface appears like a potentially standard coming-of-age story. A teenage daughter, Christine McPherson (insisting on being called Lady Bird, hence the title) navigates adolescence, and her mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf) suffers her own issues. On top of everything, Tracy Letts equally utterly convinces as the father Larry, while the mother and daughter between them are almost an avatar for the film’s complexity..

This would mean less if the characters outside those three weren’t treated as real. Thankfully, they are. Particuarly, Beanie Feldstein threatens to steal the show as Christine’s hilarious best friend, Julie Steffans. Plus, Timothee Chalamet and Lucas Hedges, as Kyle Scheible and Danny O’Neill respectively, shine in their own ways as possible love interests.

And even though the editing follows a straight coherency, it feels arranged as if the film more so gives impressions of moments, rather than absolute story events.

All in all, Gerwig and co deserve all the acclaim they can get. Support films like this.