Catherine Called Birdy

Name: Catherine Called Birdy
Genre: Adventure, Comedy
Released: September 23, 2022
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Andrew Scott, Archie Renaux, Bella Ramsey, Billie Piper, Dean-Charles Chapman

2022

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	Your Score
6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Ratings

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Catherine Called Birdy

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Movie Details & Credits

Amazon Studios | Release Date: September 23, 2022 | PG-13

Starring: Andrew Scott, Archie Renaux, Bella Ramsey, Billie Piper, Dean-Charles Chapman, Douggie McMeekin, Isis Hainsworth, Joe Alwyn, Paul Kaye, Ralph Ineson, Sophie Okonedo

Movie Facts:

Streams on Prime Video beginning October 7, 2022.

Summary: The year? 1290. In the Medieval English village of Stonebridge, Lady Catherine (known as Birdy) is the youngest child of Lord Rollo and the Lady Aislinn. Her playground is Stonebridge Manor, a house that, like the family, has seen better days. Financially destitute and utterly greedy, Rollo sees his daughter as his path out of financialThe year? 1290. In the Medieval English village of Stonebridge, Lady Catherine (known as Birdy) is the youngest child of Lord Rollo and the Lady Aislinn. Her playground is Stonebridge Manor, a house that, like the family, has seen better days. Financially destitute and utterly greedy, Rollo sees his daughter as his path out of financial ruin by marrying her off to a wealthy man for money and land. But Birdy, like all the great teen heroines, is spirited, clever, and adventurous and ready to put off any suitor that comes calling in increasingly ingenious ways. Her imagination, defiance, and deep belief in her own right to independence put her on a collision course with her parents. When the vilest suitor of all arrives, they are presented with the ultimate test of love for their daughter. [Amazon]… Expand

Director: Lena Dunham

Genre(s): Adventure, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 108 min

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Metascore

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Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Katie Walsh

Sep 27, 2022

Catherine Called Birdy is Dunham’s best writing and directing work yet; it’s an easy breezy, emotional good time, and an instant teen classic. Read full review

KiMi Robinson

Sep 23, 2022

Catherine Called Birdy is a reminder to let our spirits be free, never settle and keep loved ones close. Read full review

Lindsey Bahr

Sep 21, 2022

Catherine Called Birdy is an unabashed delight for everyone. It just might run a little deeper for a certain age group. Read full review

Alison Willmore

Sep 11, 2022

It doesn’t water down her voice. Instead, the self-lacerating, self-consumed filmmaker seems liberated by the act of adaptation, as though tempering her distinctive creative impulses gives her rein to make a movie that’s tender and more broadly crowd-pleasing, while still very much her own. Read full review

David Fear

Sep 26, 2022

So much of what makes Catherine Called Birdy sing comes down to Dunham and Ramsey working in conjunction to give you a portrait of a 13th-century teenager woman that feels thoroughly modern without being winky-nudgey, spiky and tender, oddly family-friendly while still being defiant. Read full review

Trevor Johnston

Sep 26, 2022

Occasionally flummoxed by the scale of the period canvas, [Dunham] slathers too many somewhat shapeless scenes in Carter Burwell’s incessantly cheery a capella score, and gets stuck in a plodding pace that makes the movie seem longer than it actually is. The flaws though, don’t stop us getting caught up in Catherine’s world, and it’s refreshing to encounter a medieval story which eschews savagery for a humane generosity sure to spur many useful parent-child conversations. Read full review

Wes Greene

Sep 19, 2022

In simplistic and self-congratulatory fashion, the film renders its main character as a sort of feminist crusader who undermines the sexist traditions of her time. Read full review

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User Reviews

j1train

Oct 11, 2022

Perfectly cast and confident. An absolute delight. Say what you will about Lena Dunham, but her talent as a writer-director is indisputable.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

timoni

Oct 23, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Watched last night and still thinking about it. Genuinely touched by this movie. Main actress was incredible, and growing up conservative Christian on a farm in the Midwest I really felt they nailed the helpless and boredom when your world is small. Some amazing scenes, like when the uncle falls asleep next to Birdy. Relationship between the parents was lovely. Fun to see people being so human in this context. Recommend.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

mishym

Oct 16, 2022

An absolute joy to watch. Lena Dunham has written and directed her best film yet. The actors are fantastic. If you dont smile while and after film there is something wrong with you.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

alejandro970

Oct 30, 2022

As a comedy of the adolescent genre, its British origin and humor give it a certain freshness, about a teenager who wants to change her destiny, in the medieval era. It's not bad at all, quite the opposite. Except not everyone identifies with gender.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

bertobellamy

Oct 18, 2022

A cute period film with a huge heart. Bella Ramsey shines as a medieval girl trying to find her place in a world that only offers her a life as a wife. Wish we could've followed some of the subplots presented here, but overall it's a funny coming-of-age story.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

TVJerry

Dec 15, 2022

Lena Dunham wrote and directed this Medieval comedy about a young women who resists her father's attempts to marry her off. Birdy is more typical of a Dunham's heroine than a historically accurate character. Bella Ramsey plays her as spirited and adventurous, embodying the spunky personalityLena Dunham wrote and directed this Medieval comedy about a young women who resists her father's attempts to marry her off. Birdy is more typical of a Dunham's heroine than a historically accurate character. Bella Ramsey plays her as spirited and adventurous, embodying the spunky personality of a teen in any current show (contemporary tunes are used on the soundtrack). The writing is at times amusing and the performances are enjoyable, esp. Billie Piper and Andrew Scott as her parents. There are echoes of Jane Austen dancing around the whole affair, but there's sufficient pluck to make it occasionally entertaining.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Oct 11, 2022

It has an interesting approach and Bella Ramsey takes over the story with no problem, however, Lena Dunham doesn't give her much to explore by following such a linear path that lacks variety.

From what I gathered before seeing it, the character is much richer and more complex than what IIt has an interesting approach and Bella Ramsey takes over the story with no problem, however, Lena Dunham doesn't give her much to explore by following such a linear path that lacks variety.

From what I gathered before seeing it, the character is much richer and more complex than what I saw in this film and if so, that's a shame, because from what I see, this adaptation was more focused on fleshing out its message in whichever way it could, forgetting along the way to make it more powerful and creative.

Yes I would say see it, but with reservations.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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