Greta Gerwig’s Ladybird is a moving coming of age film about the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters.
Ladybird follows Christine “Ladybird” McPherson, a strong-willed senior in high school as she plans for the future and experiences her last year at home, much to her mother’s chagrin. The two butt heads over Ladybird’s name, which she chose for herself, and where to go to college.
Ladybird is determined to get out of Sacramento and go to an uppity school in New England, but her family is struggling financially so her dreams are out of the question as far as her mom is concerned.
We watch Ladybird struggle with her friendships, romantic relationships, and of course her family. She is messy and loud and makes plenty of mistakes, a refreshing portrayal of a young female character. Even though she can be all over the place, Ladybird has a big heart.
This movie always makes me cry, but especially the end. The final scene of the movie shows Ladybird, after moving into her dorm in New York City and being hospitalized after a party, calling her mom to tell her thank you and I love you.
I watched this movie religiously before I graduated high school. It made me feel seen and gave me a soft landing place to put the anxiety I was feeling about the future. Now that I’m on the other side of those fears, I’m in the same place Ladybird was at the end of the film. I’m so grateful for my parents and everything they’ve done for me, that sometimes all the extraneous stuff with them just melts away and all I’m left with is the love I have for them.