44/36
Barry Keoghan dropped out of Gladiator II (2024) and starred in this film
Tale
Barry Keoghan dropped out of Gladiator II (2024) and starred in this film. Bird shares similarities with Andrea Arnold’s previous film Fishtank, in which an estranged teenager finds herself in serious danger while trying to escape her loneliness and domestic turmoil.
None of the adults in her world seem to be able to offer much guidance, leaving Bailey to chart her own course
In this new work, Arnold focuses on a teenager named Bailey, who lives in a chaotic, grim squat with her father and older brother. Her father, Bug, is planning to marry his eccentric new girlfriend, while her mother lives nearby in even more chaotic conditions with an abusive boyfriend, a group of Bailey’s younger siblings, and her dog, Dave.
After fleeing the police and sleeping rough, she meets a stranger named Bird
After a fight with Bug, Bailey tracks down a gang of street kids who are committing random crimes. This eccentric traveler was born in the region, raised elsewhere, and is trying to find the father he barely remembers.
After some hesitation, Bailey decides to help him
Nykiya Adams gives a bold and compelling title role as Bailey’s search for Bird becomes entangled with other diversions, distractions, and plots. His seemingly aimless wanderings eventually culminate in a revealing moment, captured in a remarkable passage where the film briefly strays from gritty realism into the realm of fantasy.
Somehow, Arnold pulls off this trick, transforming his urban drama into an intense and memorable fable
Check out our list of exciting new films from this year’s film festivals, including Venice, TIFF, New York Film Festival, and more.