Catherine Called Birdy review: Bella Ramsey is excellent in a fairly engaging medieval dramedy

The film directed by Lena Dunham is based on Karen Cushman’s novel of the same name

Catherine Called Birdy

Story: When Lord Rollo learns about his dwindling finances, he is left with no other option but to marry off his 14-year-old daughter Birdy to a rich suitor who promises either wealth or land in exchange. But Birdy is not the one to heed to such demands. Every time a potential suitor visits her, she goes out of her way to fend him off. But her schemes do not work on the old and repulsive Shaggy Beard, who finds Birdy’s eccentricities pleasing and is determined to marry her. Will Birdy end up marrying Beard or will she be able to lead life her way?

Review: A young, rebellious girl constantly at odds with her family and challenging predetermined societal norms is a familiar and frequently used troupe in several films and TV shows. Amazon Prime Video’s latest feature offering Catherine Called Birdy, directed by Lena Dunham (best known as the creator of the TV series Girls), treads along a similar premise. Yet, the film manages to hold our attention and present a fun and delightful story about a girl living in 13th-century England.

Birdy (Bella Ramsey), the youngest child of Lord Rollo and Lady Aislinn, has a heart and mind of her own. You would rather find her playing in the mud with goatherds than doing embroidery, which was considered ladylike and a more appropriate pastime for a young girl of her time. When her father tries to get her married off or rather sell her off to the wealthiest suitor, she resists. Marriage is the last thing she wants. In fact, when she gets her first period, she hides the news from her parents to delay her marriage a little longer. She scares off several potential suitors through tricks and tactics, which involve blackening her teeth to make it appear that she is toothless or claiming that she has a stooped back. These scenes constitute the best part of the film. Dunham deserves credit for perfectly capturing the anger, frustration, and resentment of a young girl who doesn’t wish to surrender her own self.

The film, just like the book it is based on, sheds light on what it was to be a woman in the medieval ages. The rules were mostly made by men, and the only purpose of women was to bear children. In fact, for most of the movie's runtime, Birdy’s mother Aislinn (Billie Piper) is shown pregnant, delivering one stillborn baby after another. This character doesn’t serve any other purpose in the plot. Birdy’s best friend Aelis (Isis Hainsworth) is married off to a nine-year-old duke although she has feelings for someone else. When the young duke dies, Aelis’ father demands a larger sum from a suitor if she was to remarry since she was still a virgin. Women were treated as mere commodities. Likewise, the marriage between Birdy’s uncle George (Joe Alwyn) and Ethelfritha (Sophie Okonedo) is more like a business deal than a marriage based on love.

While adapting Karen Cushman’s novel, Dunham has made a few alterations to the story, the most significant change being the ending. The film’s climax will cater to the interests of the Gen-Z crowd, and this is perhaps what the filmmaker was aiming for. However, with the change in the ending, there is a noticeable change in the arcs of certain characters that feel a bit forced. At the same time, the inclusion of a progressive storyline for Perkin, one of Birdy’s friends, is a welcome change from the source material.

Ramsey, best known for playing Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, is as delightful as the boisterous Birdy. She fills the screen with energy and her comic timing is spot-on. Her irreverent wit is the highlight of the film. Another stand-out performance is by Andrew Scott, who played Jim Moriarity in the BBC series Sherlock. As Birdy’s father, Scott delivers a compelling and hilarious performance. The film’s soundtrack which includes Alicia Keys’ Girl On Fire and Mazzy Star’s Fade Into You is also one which the film’s target audience would enjoy.

Verdict: Though Dunham has attempted to present a more updated version of Cushman’s story, it doesn’t always hit the right note. But keeping these minor flaws aside, Catherine Called Birdy offers several good moments that make it an enjoyable and engaging watch.

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Cast and Crew

Andrew Scott

Joe Alwyn

Bella Ramsey

Lena Dunham

Isis Hainsworth

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