Catherine Called Birdy

Available on Amazon Prime Video.

Lena Dunham writes and directs this coming of age tale set in 13th century England and based on Karen Cushman’s book. Lady Catherine, also known as Birdy, (Bella Ramsey) is just 14 and still enjoys playing in the mud with her friends Perkin (Michael Woolfitt), Meg (Rita Bernard-Shaw) and her best friend Aelis (Isis Hainsworth). But life is about to change as she finds herself in the verge of womanhood. Her father Lord Rollo (Andrew Scott) realises Birdy is his family’s best asset and best chance to help alleviate its debt by marrying her off to a wealthy suitor, who can provide a big dowry. But Birdy has no intention of making that easy for her father or mother Lady Aislinn (Billie Piper) as she navigates her changing world with all the challenges it presents to a 13th century teenager.

While I’m not really the audience for a coming of age story but that didn’t stop this been an enjoyable and charming film. Taking the traditional coming of age story, with all the usual loves, friendships and awkward crushes, with the added “fun” of growing up in the 14th century and being paraded before a long line of inappropriate suitors.

It’s a really smart idea that does work well. In Bella Ramsey we have a engaging and humourous lead who is well supported by the always enjoyble Andrew Scott as her troubled father, torn between family finance and the love of his daughter. And Billie Piper juggling the horrific challenge of child birth in the 13th century with trying to be a mother.

It’s funny and well paced not overstretching its idea and perfectly balanced its contemporary tale with some of the horrors faced by young girls and women of the time.

Catherine Called Birdy has a fun premise, taking the coming of age teen comedy and setting it in the 13th century, which really works. It zips along nicely with plenty of charm and humour. If you’ve ever wondered what the iife of a medieval teenager was like then this is for you.