Catherine Called Birdy follows Bella Ramsey as Catherine aka Birdy, who after her father (played by Andrew Scott) realises they are absolutely broke decides to wed his daughter to keep the family and his lavish lifestyle going.
Except Birdy doesn't want that, she doesn't want to marry and have to grow up. She still wants to be free and wild and childish and thus begin her plans to turn off every suitor.
I found this balanced the time of the 1200s really well with having a humorous side in turning away suitors and teenagers being silly combined with the realities of that time. Birdy had men of all ages coming for her hand from 14 all the way to 60s ish, and also her friend Aislyn, also needing to be married has to marry a 9 year old boy at 16. It portrays well the way children especially girls had no power in their futures or who to spend their lives with and the reality that girls at 14 didn't know what sex or periods were at that age.
It was brilliant to see periods spoken about so openly in the show with the dramaticness provided by Birdy and thinking she is dying but also the horror at the fact that she is becoming a 'woman' because of that and thus more marriageable material. The trying to hide it and the sadness at realising this is actually happening felt so relatable and I think is an important thing to show in movies for young girls so they can find relatable experiences and not feel so alone.
There are quite a few familiar British faces in the cast with Billie Piper, Joe Alwyn, David Bradley and Russell Brand and it was so refreshing to see people from the UK take up so much of the cast along with newer and younger stars who will be up and coming stars like Bella Ramsey and Archie Renaux.
The costumes felt very on tone with the time era, I wouldn't be able to say for definite that they would be accurate for the era but they are recognisable to what I would imagine the Medieval times, but they didn't make the cast look utterly gorgeous. It was very shapeless and kind of ugly but really set up the scene.
I highly recommend watching this for a quick and fun movie, it isn't highbrow butis perfect if you want a fun time!
Except Birdy doesn't want that, she doesn't want to marry and have to grow up. She still wants to be free and wild and childish and thus begin her plans to turn off every suitor.
I found this balanced the time of the 1200s really well with having a humorous side in turning away suitors and teenagers being silly combined with the realities of that time. Birdy had men of all ages coming for her hand from 14 all the way to 60s ish, and also her friend Aislyn, also needing to be married has to marry a 9 year old boy at 16. It portrays well the way children especially girls had no power in their futures or who to spend their lives with and the reality that girls at 14 didn't know what sex or periods were at that age.
It was brilliant to see periods spoken about so openly in the show with the dramaticness provided by Birdy and thinking she is dying but also the horror at the fact that she is becoming a 'woman' because of that and thus more marriageable material. The trying to hide it and the sadness at realising this is actually happening felt so relatable and I think is an important thing to show in movies for young girls so they can find relatable experiences and not feel so alone.
There are quite a few familiar British faces in the cast with Billie Piper, Joe Alwyn, David Bradley and Russell Brand and it was so refreshing to see people from the UK take up so much of the cast along with newer and younger stars who will be up and coming stars like Bella Ramsey and Archie Renaux.
The costumes felt very on tone with the time era, I wouldn't be able to say for definite that they would be accurate for the era but they are recognisable to what I would imagine the Medieval times, but they didn't make the cast look utterly gorgeous. It was very shapeless and kind of ugly but really set up the scene.
I highly recommend watching this for a quick and fun movie, it isn't highbrow butis perfect if you want a fun time!