Saoirse Ronan (who was wonderful in the film Brooklyn, but don’t ask me how to pronounce her first name) is delightful in this semi-autobiographical tale from director/writer Greta Gerwig (who doesn’t appear in her movie).  The self-labelled “Lady Bird” is a creative, confused, intelligent and witty senior at a Sacramento, California Catholic high school in the early 2000s, with a strained relationship with a very caring mom (who the family is financially dependent on) — a great performance by Laurie Metcalf — but a good rapport with a kind dad ( the always dependable Tracy Letts).  The characters all feel like real people, trying to do their best as life’s circumstances change around them.  A film pleasure from start to finish.

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