Directed by Greta Gerwig (Nights and Weekends) and starring Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn; The Lovely Bones; The Grand Budapest Hotel; Atonement), Laurie Metcalf (Scream 2; Uncle Buck; Toy Story; Leaving Las Vegas, and numerous TV series) and Tracy Letts (Killer Joe; August: Osage County; The Big Short; The Post; Elvis & Nixon).

Comedy drama; 94 mins; 6+

Lady Bird is set in Sacramento, California, in the 1970s; the story is based around 17 year-old Christine McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) who attends an all-girls Catholic High School. Her mother Marion McPherson (Laurie Metcalf) works as a nurse who works double shifts, where possible, to support her family, and her father Larry McPherson (Tracy Letts) is a gentle soul who has suffered from depression and has not worked for quite a while. Christine's brother and his girlfriend also live in the house, but he seems to be unemployed.

Christine likes to call herself "Lady Bird". While not showing serious tendencies in art or other creative subjects at school, she does try out for the school play, a joint production with an all-boys school. She has arguments with her mother, like most teenagers do, but it is far from a fractious relationship. She does not threathen to run away from home, but works towards going to college on the East Coast. She is headstrong, though, and the film traces her last year in high school which can be life-defining for many.

But Lady Bird is, as she says so herself, from the "wrong side of the tracks". She attempts to get in with the "cool crowd" at school, to the hurt of her best friend. In doing so, she pretends to live in a large, distinguished house. Her "Lady Bird" persona may be part of a rebellious streak but, in reality, headstrong-yet-sensitive Christine is just finding herself in life and working out where she wants to go.

Lady Bird is somewhat melancholic but never dull. It portrays life in the US in that period, with nuns for teachers and friendships, the "cool" crowd and everything that goes with it. Christine finds a boyfreined, a creative type and somewhat rebellious himself, and has her first sexual encounter. The script is wonderful, yet the storyline could have dwelled more on her participation in the school play and other dramatic engagements.

While there not being a big build up to the school's Prom Night, the scenes around that event do characterise the film and its story to the extent that Lady Bird takes decisions that are going to shape her future, and her character. A lot is made of the differences between friendships and romance, and family ties are held strong.

A joy to watch... will we ever see a Sequel?