Bird

Bailey lives with her father and brother in a small apartment in northern England. When her father announces his imminent marriage, the house falls into chaos, and Bailey seeks to escape the hustle and bustle: from her restless father, his young new wife, and her little daughter. In her wanderings, she meets a strange character – "Bird" – who asks for her help. These plotlines, along with others, gradually form a week of events that force Bailey to grow up. As in all of Andrea Arnold's films, the focus is on a heroine trying to stabilize her life, with parental supervision being rare and physical conditions demanding toughness and generosity. But while Arnold's previous films have exhibited humane realism, here she moves toward more fantastical directions, which lend the film surprising power. The result, which premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, is another installment in the unique filmography of one of the greatest filmmakers of our generation.