Catherine called Birdy is another film in which I did not know the source material, which is a book by Karen Cushman released in 1994. The film is written and directed by Lena Dunham, the mind behind the HBO series Girls, who considers this film a passion project. I knew the film had a period setting, but I didn’t expect a medieval comedy-drama with a wonderful cast of familiar British actors. It’s in theaters now in a limited release, but it’s coming to Prime Video this Friday.
Review by Catherine Called Birdy
The film follows Lady Catherine (aka Birdy), a 14-year-old girl who wants to break free from the gender norms of 1290. Bella Ramsey (who will star in the upcoming HBO series The last of us) stars as the lead and takes on what made her a fan favorite on game of thrones also in this role. She’s cast perfectly for the role and has great chemistry with everyone she shares the screen with.
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Birdy’s parents, Lord Rollo and Lady Aislinn, are played by fan favorites Andrew Scott (sherlock) and Billie Piper (Doctor Who). It’s nice to see them both on screen, especially Billie Piper, who I had the pleasure of meeting a few years ago at Philadelphia Wizard World (now FanExpo). The supporting cast is also dotted with familiar faces, particularly Sophie Okonedo and David Bradley. There is another very surprising appearance but I will leave this one as a surprise for everyone!
All in all, if you’re a fan of British TV/period films, you’ll absolutely enjoy Catherine called Birdy. It takes a piece from medieval times and gives it a modern twist (particularly in part to the modern music choices used). It also has a wonderful cast that has great chemistry across the board, especially Bella Ramsey, Andrew Scott, and Billie Piper. It’s not something you need to watch right away, but I’d add it to your watch list for a rainy day!
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