Bird
one of the most beautiful yet bitter sweet movies i’ve seen in a while. a coming of age movie with a touch of magical realism. visually stunning while also having an at home VHS tape feel. this movie can be seen and viewed in a multitude of ways, and i think that’s why i love movies like this. you’re thrown into Bailey’s world, it’s unkind, rough around the edges, and she’s 12 years old experiencing 12 year old girl things. she’s doesn’t know who she is or how to feel about herself or her emotions, but she’s angry!! what girl wasn’t at 12!!?? while her situation is unique to her, i found myself relating to her and saw some similarities between her and myself at 12. she loves to capture moments, good and bad, on her phone, is she finding the beauty in the world around her? circumstances be damned? she loves to film the birds, i viewed this as she likes how they are so free, can leave and go wherever they please and feeling the most connected to them.
we then meet Bird, and he’s this eccentric, odd, but gentle man. we learn he comes from a different, but similarly tragic background. although he’s a lot older, he’s very childlike, remaining kind and soft throughout. he’s a protector and a shoulder to lean on, but the question i found myself asking was “is Bird even real? is he her guardian angel?” well….we know he’s real, everyone around her can see him, her siblings trust and adore him immediately (and not in the typical childlike innocence way, but like they know his soul, who he is as a person). there’s even a moment where Baliey tells him about how a chinese rug burn can help him tell if he’s real. so, is he her guardian angel? i imagine him as having a foot on both sides, yes he’s a living person, but he’s also something else entirely. now whether he was always meant to meet Bailey or it was just by chance, i’m unsure. i like the magical realism the final act of the movie takes on. we all have an inner strength & spirit animal within us, sometimes it just takes a similar soul to awaken that part of us that previously sat dormant. this movie is so heartbreakingly beautiful and will be on my mind for a while.