‘Catherine Called Birdy’ Review – A Quirky And Off-Beat Medieval Coming-Of-Age Film

Dunham’s work is usually hit or miss for me. Catherine Called Birdy is a hit because of its quirky and clever way of tackling the coming-of-age story within a medieval setting. Game of Thrones and The Last Of Us star, Bella Ramsey, really comes into her own as the spirited and rebellious Lady Catherine. The film is an adaptation of the 1994 novel by Karen Cushman.

The film opens in 13th century Lincolnshire. Lady Catherine lives with her father, Rollo (Andrew Scott), her pregnant mother, Aislinn (Billie Piper), and her teenage brother, Robert (Dean-Charles Chapman). Her older brother, Edward (Archie Reneaux), departed the family to become a monk, and Catherine is also attended to by her loyal nursemaid, Morwenna (Leslie Sharp).

Although young Catherine, affectionately referred to as Birdy, has enjoyed a fun, privileged, and carefree existence for the last fourteen years, her fortune begins to change when her father reveals that their family is having financial troubles. The best way to fix their situation is to acquire the dowry they’d receive once Birdy is engaged to a wealthy lord. Birdy is horrified by the thought, and the untimely arrival of her period means that her parents will be all the more eager to arrange a marriage to usher in her emerging womanhood. The rebellious Birdy decides that she won’t be sold off and sets out to scare off each of her would be suitors with outlandish antics. Much to her chagrin, one suitor whom she refers to as Shaggy Beard (Paul Kaye) finds her tricks alluring and decides to marry her.

In the midst of all of this, Birdy deals with other issues: she has a falling out with her friends, Aelis (Isis Hainsworth) and Perkin (Michael Woolfitt); her Uncle George (Joe Alwyn) marries as rich widow; her mother is pregnant again after several miscarriages and Catherine lives in fear that she’ll die during childbirth.

I’ve always been a fan of period pieces that manage to have a modern sensibility. While it might not always be historically accurate, it’s entertaining and provides a fresh and fun take on what could have strictly been a historical piece.

Ramsey gleefully portrays Birdy as a young woman who is resentful of the power she lacks in society, and she has no issue calling out the hypocrisy of the society she lives in. Her parents realize that giving her all of the freedom and room to grow and explore could have been a bad idea given that Birdy refuses to just be seen, and not heard. Ramsey portrays the character as a trickster when she needs to be, but deeply vulnerable. Birdy feels more than she’d like to admit. Ramsey infuses the character with so much spunk and heart that you cannot help but love and root for her.

Andrew Scott as Birdy’s father is one of the most comedic parts of the movie. He would do anything to save his rebellious daughter but understands that she refuses to be controlled. Watching him awkwardly and humorously try to run his kingdom, keep Birdy in line, and take care of his wife is hilarious. Scott makes it impossible to hate the character. He does something at the climax of the film to win his daughter’s freedom that should have the viewers waiting with bated breath to see if he’ll survive, but situation is done so comedically that you can’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of the events. Scott’s charm is a joy to watch and film greatly benefits from it.

Billie Piper and Lesley Sharp are a much needed presence in the film as maternal guides for Birdy. Because Piper’s character is pregnant and on bed rest throughout most of the film, it seems like she is a bit underutilized. She’s strategically dropped in here and there to deliver advice that only a mother could to her wayward daughter. Seeing Piper in the role of a wise mother is perfect. Sharp provides the same type of guidance but is much sterner. She can see through Birdy’s games and refuses to take part. She has a soft side, but knows that a firmer hand is required with Birdy. The film greatly benefited from having this balanced portrayal of female guides for the character.

A storyline that I would have loved to see more of is of Catherine’s friend, Perkin. Halfway through the film, Birdy realizes that her goat-hearding friend is gay. Woolfitt portrays this revelation with a sense of desperation and fear that you’d expect a young man from this time period to have about his same-sex attraction.

Chapman and Hainsworth do well enough in their respective roles. Both challenge and support her as her brother and best friend. The two characters find a surprising happily ever after with each other, and it’s a nice way to wrap up the character’s storyline.

Catherine Called Birdy is a charming, funny, and will leave viewers smiling as the credits roll.

Catherine Called Birdy is currently streaming on Prime Video. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPiztxYR9sU]