Catherine Called Birdy is a medieval comedy film that stars Bella Ramsey as Lady Catherine/Birdy, Andrew Scott as Lord Rollo (Catherine’s father), Billie Piper as Lady Aislinn (Catherine’s mother), Joe Alwyn as George, Dean-Charles Chapman as Robert (Catherine’s Older Brother), Isis Hainsworth as Aelis and others. The film is based on Karen Cushman’s 1994 novel of the same name.

Lena Dunham has directed and penned the screenplay for 108 minutes movie. The cinematography is done by Laurie Rose, and the editing is done by Joe Klotz.

Amazon Prime Video’s Catherine Called Birdy Doesn’t Contain Spoilers

Lady Catherine or Birdy, is in her early teenage days. Her father, Lord Rollo, can’t wait for Birdy to be a woman so that he can marry her off to a rich suitor. Rollo wants his daughter to marry soon so his social and financial status can improve. His wife, Lady Aislinn, has had several miscarriages and is pregnant again.

Birdy gets her first period but doesn’t inform her parents about the same. Catherine doesn’t like the life of Lady Catherine, has no interest in getting married and wants to live her life to the fullest. For how long will Catherine succeed in hiding the fact that she is now a “woman” and has got her periods? Will her parents understand what their daughter really wants?

In Catherine Called Birdy, Bella Ramsay narrates her own story as Catherine. She is a free-spirited teenage girl with a teenage crush on her handsome Uncle George. Her father wants her to marry a middle-aged rich man that will improve his kingdom’s financial condition. But Catherine has seen how her mother has become nothing but a baby-producing machine as a wife. That’s not what Catherine wants to do.

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Catherine does everything she can to fight for her freedom and her dreams. She even has an angry monologue on why men think they’re gods and can decide what women must do. I could sense her anger, her helplessness. However, it’s a comedy movie, and the tonality is not always serious. Catherine is fierce and doesn’t easily bow down to anyone.

However, in the end, we see her succumb to societal pressure. It sadly makes sense, considering women are fighting for their rights and freedom even in today’s time. Lena’s movie is just a glimpse of how it has been happening for centuries.

Despite having some delightful and hilarious moments, Catherine Called Birdy isn’t a movie that will grab everyone’s interest. The screenplay is quite simple, with hardly any turning points.

Actor Bella Ramsay has done a commendable job in emoting the challenges and changes her character, Lady Catherine, is going through. She has proved her acting mettle again, especially after her impactful performance in Game of Thrones as Lyanna Mormont. Andrew Scott, as Lord Rollo, plays his part well as a regressive and selfish father. It wasn’t a tough role to play, as we have seen him do much better work in the part. Billi Piper and Joe Alwyn don’t have much screen time but have played their parts well.

Catherine Called Birdy Movie Review: Final Thoughts

Overall, Catherine Called Birdy is an amusing medieval comedy that shows the pain and challenges a teenage girl grows through. Despite being such a realistic tale, it doesn’t leave a lasting impact. It’s a good one-time watch.

The movie is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

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