Own the rights?
11 out of 11 people found the following review useful: Another class portrayal of working class life from Ken Loach, 19 October 1998 Author: Glyn Ingram (mringram@hotmail.com) from London, England
Ken Loache's "Ladybird, Ladybird" is a superb film, and even manages to improve on the director's two earlier efforts from this decade; "Riff Raff," (1991) and the remarkable "Raining Stones" (1993). However, whereas the afore-mentioned films combined social, working-class issues with a fair quantity of fun and humour, "Ladyird, Ladybird" is Loache's most serious and powerful study of Northern, working-class life in the nineteen nineties, with only a dash of humour.The story centres around a middle-aged Liverpudlian woman called Maggie, who now lives in Manchester. After a chance metting in a pub one evening with a kind and articulate South American called Jorge, Maggie recalls her traumatic life to her new friend, from her own violent upbringing, right the way up to just very recently, where social services took away her children, following domestic abuse from Maggie's ex boyfriend and a tragic accident in which her eldest son was very seriously scarred. As the relationship between Maggie and Jorge becomes all the more intimate over the eventual weeks, Maggie finds herself in another battle with social services as she becomes pregnant with his child.Perhaps the most obvious thing to mention about "Ladybird, Ladybird" first of all, is the quality of the performances. Crissy Rock, a real-life stand up comedian, is quite extraordinary in her debut acting role - This really is an Oscar deserved performance which needs to be seen to be believed. Meanwhile, Ray Winstone is well on form in a small but important cameo, whilst under Loache's direction, the remainder of the cast all turn out well above par performances. The script is superb, and is never afraid to confront the issues that dog modern life in Britain for so many today.Whilst the film is a study of many themes, it's clear to see exactly what Loach is trying to get his audience to understand about our protangist by the end. Everybody knows a character like Maggie; a hard woman, but a good woman. There is no doubt in our mind that she loves her children and will do anything for them. During the opening sequence, she lovingly shows photos of each child to Jorge, describing each one's personalities one by one. However, the big question "Ladybird, Ladybird" is asking, is Is love enough? Should someone like Maggie be allowed to continue looking after her children? Do social services really have the right to take anyones children away? Does anyone?Whilst "Ladybird, Ladybird" provides little answers to these questions, it does, at least represent that at least Britain has a filmmaker out there who really does know what's going on in modern day England. Perhaps the only grittier and more realistic British film I've ever seen is Gary Oldman's "Nil by Mouth," which, in some areas, confronts similar issues as this movie."Ladybird, Ladybird" isn't a film for everyone. Some won't like its grittiness and some may not find its themes and characters particularly appealing. However, this is a great movie from a great director, and, similarly to "Nil by Mouth," made just three years later, although both movies were made on a fraction of the budget of most American films, "Ladybird, Ladybird" proves to be a thousand times more thoughtful, intelligent and downright brilliant than the majority of commerical, stereotype-dominated fluff like "Titanic."
12 out of 14 people found the following review useful: Wow., 14 September 2000 Author: Cobbler from Venice Beach, California
My jaw was on the floor throughout this film. I was amazed at the intensity of Crissy Rock's performance and I was aghast at all of the horrible things that she had to endure. Vladimir Vega's subtle work as Jorge should be given an equal amount of credit. The emotional honesty in this movie is amazing and I had to pause the VCR a couple of times because I was so shaken up. Definitely worth your time, and an excellent introduction to the work of a worthy director.
8 out of 8 people found the following review useful: A shocking, thought-provoking masterpiece., 21 November 2001 Author: Devyalento Latchford Deschanel from London, England
Ladybird Ladybird is by far one of the most shocking films I have seen in my life. The sheer power of the film is overwhelming. It has no fear and makes no apologies for what it is, it plainly shows you one woman's struggle against the system to try and retain her children and give them the love they deserve. You can throw many words around to describe it, gritty, ugly, brave, true, but I prefer just to call it moving. The film did literally bring me to tears, which is something most films don't do nowadays. It's brutally honest and explicit, but any lighter and it wouldn't have worked. It's rawness works to it's advantage.Crissy Rock is a relevation as Maggie, pure and simple. She gives one of the most awesome performances I have ever seen. To give such a performance in your debut role is remarkable. The character seems to be so self-destructive at times that it can be frustrating, but peel away the layers and you see a woman torn by circumstance. A chance meeting with a violent thug left her scarred, mentally and physically. Once the bruises from his beatings faded and he left the picture, she seemed to take on some of his characteristics, being so violent to her new lover verbally and sometimes physically. Rock gave her all and is unforgettable.The rest of the cast are all fantastic. The fact that the film is so good is because of it's realism. Sometimes you forget that your watching a film, it feels like your watching real life unfold. The characters seem so real, the film itself felt like a documentary on more than one occasion to me. That in itself made it all the more uncomfortable to watch. On repeated viewings, if you can stand them, I wasn't able to watch certain scenes again. They make such an impact on you that you don't need to see them again, they replay in your head straight away. The film makes it's mark on you from first look and that what good film-making is all about. Ladybird Ladybird is unforgettable.
7 out of 7 people found the following review useful: In search of a mother's dignity., 4 August 2001 Author: dbdumonteil
Kenneth Loach ,among all the great directors in the world,has always been one of the very few who depicts the "riff raff" ,to quote one of his works.In his universe, you will not find the young lawyer ,the yalie,the dynamic executive,the journalist with good prospects or the handsome detective with his gorgeous assistant.All his characters are individuals struggling against the authorities and who cannot win:the little boy from "kes",the young girl from 'family life",the two buddies on the dole from "looks and smiles",and the unfortunate mother from "ladybird ladybird". "Ladybird,ladybird" is a harsh movie,sometimes unbearable,definitely not for all tastes.Crissy Rock is absolutely astounding,she does not play the part,she really lives it,leaving us on the edge of our seat.Her screams,her tears,her anger are so real that,had Loach not said it was a true story,we would believe in it anyway.Loach's treatment is stripped of any embellishment.No need for strings when fate strikes once more the heroine.Her partner,an immigrant,is a good man who loves her sincerely ;he suffers because he feels helpless,and when she beats him,he does not complain:his despair is so deep he contemplates suicide.We are far from the immigrant macho cliché. The heroine must come from a poor social background,so she was never taught the rules of the game,so she is bound to fail.But Loach avoids to show us the people from the social services as "baddies":it's for her own good,they say.They reason by the establishment's rules,but they never try to communicate with the mother,deemed irresponsible,unable to get a place in the community.The end of the movie preserves the viewer from despair though.Every dog has his day,they say.May it be true for this poor couple!
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Chrissy is amazing, 20 January 1999 Author: Boyo-2
Chrissy Rock is amazing in this movie. It is almost impossible to watch at times because it is so intense. You will feel like you are living through the ordeals the characters experience. I can't think of many actresses who would have been able to deliver such a performance.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: an incredible performance!, 27 November 1998 Author: nicholas adams from riverside, californa
Chrissy Rock gave an unforgettable performance in this little seen film. i highly recommend anyone to go out and rent it. another great but "little seen" film is "Once Were Warriors". my advice is if you go to the video store to rent a couple movies, and are interested in how movies should be made,search for these 2 titles,and you'll see your trip to the video store was well worth it!
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Who Deserves to Have Children and Keep Them?, 20 January 2009 Author: Lisa Falour from France
This is a story about a British woman who struggles to keep her children. Ken Loach's movies are always good and they always deal with sad and gritty subjects. The thing that struck me most about this movie was that although I initially felt sympathy for the main character, Maggie, I quickly lost it. She's so upset she is completely uncooperative with the social services people, who are often judgmental and unlikeable, but who are only trying to do their jobs. When Maggie finds a lover who does not abuse her as her earlier partners did, she refuses to appreciate his steadfastness, his decency and his loyalty to her, and she tries to drive him away. I was surprised to find myself so unsympathetic to Maggie. My frustration with her grew, and I found myself saying, aloud, "God, she's impossible!" Even though I didn't like the character, the movie is so good, I could not tear my eyes away from it. Ken Loach is a genius. I think the hardest works are those with unsympathetic main characters. If you still find yourself fascinated, even though you find yourself detesting the protagonist in a movie, it makes the viewing even more memorable. I sometimes feel sad that I have no children; yet, when I see this story, I feel better about it. I also wonder why I cannot muster much sympathy for Maggie, even though I have things in common with the character. Society is especially unforgiving when dealing with parents. In its well-meaning interest in the welfare of the children, it often fails to reach out to the parents who are sometimes quite good people, but who are struggling to cope. Almost everyone could benefit from seeing this movie. It's highly instructive. It makes you think about the roles we, as adults, play in society, and what our responsibilities are. None of the questions and issues raised by this movie are easy to deal with. There are no easy answers. I think both great objectivity and subjectivity are necessary toward finding solutions, and both are seldom possible at the same time; hence, mistakes are made, all around. The character of the good man she finally finds is beautifully played by an unknown actor. I wondered how he could continue to be so good, and yet I felt myself completely frustrated with him and annoyed with him when he tried to explain his reasons for being a political exile from his country of origin in a court hearing. He was so upset that for once, he couldn't think clearly and couldn't express himself adequately. This showed me that despite his "good" qualities, under extreme pressure, he could be as hard to understand and to help as Maggie is. This movie is based on a true story, which is, sadly, not hard to believe. This same type of situation is played out again and again. What to do? Leave children in questionable households, or take them away? Try to see this movie and to share it with someone who is troubled, who has been abused, and who has had problems dealing with administrations of almost any kind. It's very instructive, even though, as I've said, no answers are given.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Superb Ken Loach movie!, 19 May 2005 Author: theviloness from Tilburg, Netherlands
They recently released a Ken Loach Box here in The Netherlands. The box contains Riff-Raff, Raining Stones, Land And Freedom, Ae Fond Kiss and Ladybird, Ladybird. I only had seen Ae Fond Kiss so you could imagine how enthusiastic I was to see the other titles.Crissy Rock did such an amazing job in this film. She had to carry this movie all the way and she did it perfect! Her role was so intense it is magnificent! The supporting cast was also very good, especially Vladimir Vega (Jorge) and Ray Winstone (Simon).Although this is a movie that you don't want to see very often, because of the topic and the realistic Drama with capital D, it is a movie that everybody must see!
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Intense Drama with even more intense acting, 1 August 2004 Author: erwan_ticheler from Amsterdam, Holland
I have seen several Ken Loach films in the past like BREAD AND ROSES and MY NAME IS JOE and I really think that Loach is one of the most talented directors around.His social films are very intense and miles away from your regular Hollywood or Pinewood movie.I thought that MY NAME IS JOE was an intense drama(and it is very much so)but LADYBIRD LADYBIRD is the absolute powerhouse of drama and despare.The acting performances of Crissy Rock and Vladimir Vega are so intense that it seems to be really happening.Loach uses a lot of unexperienced actors to play in his films and this time around it's no different.Both Rock and Vega make their cinema debut here.The fact that Loach uses these unfamiliar people enhances the reality of his films.The verbal fights between Rock and the social workers are almost unwatchable as are the fights she has with her former boyfriend. The way that Loach uses flashbacks to tell the story is very well done.Still there are some points of criticism.I know that the film is based on a true story but some things are not very realistic.For instance why should a political refugee of Paraguay start an affair with a sad and unbalanced woman from Mersy Side.Also the parts with the social workers are slightly overdone,but maybe it's the truth.If it is,then I'm afraid to say that these folks are absolutely cold hearted.LADYBIRD LADYBIRD is the most intense film I've ever seen.It's very hard to watch but even harder not to. 9/10
4 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Possibly the most powerful & disturbing film ever made, 9 December 2004 Author: Marc from Melbourne, Australia
I challenge any parent who has been questioned over the care of the children or any person who has been unjustly accused of neglect as I have have once been, to sit and watch this disturbing powerhouse of a film. I paused it twice during my original sitting and had to take a moment to deal with what I was being confronted with once again. Rarely . . . yes VERY RARELY does a film or a movie engage me to this point. I have seen several Ken Loach films and I live in admiration of this artist/man, but yet I wasn't prepared for what I sat and watched. I give this 10 out of 10 and am shocked that it hasn't been recognised further by any awards society such as "The Bafta" and "Academy Awards".Chrissy Rock, I take my hat off to you to have the guts to give all that you gave for your performance, the the actor that played "Jorge" . . you have delivered a standout performance. Ken Loach, you are my hero.Indeed I stand by my title, possibly the most powerful and disturbing film every made. Magnificent. Ambitious. It delivers.
Add another review
