Bird

Barry Keoghan and Franz Rogowski star in Andrea Arnold’s latest social realist drama, which extends her oeuvre into exciting new territory.

Twelve-year-old Bailey and her anarchic father, Bug (an extremely tattooed Barry Keoghan – Saltburn, The Banshees of Inisherin), speed together on his e-scooter back to their squat in North Kent, where Bug surprises her with some big news: he’s getting married on Saturday. This sends Bailey into a rebellious tailspin.

She cuts off her hair and stays out all night, sleeping in a field on the outskirts of town. There, she meets a mysterious drifter named Bird (Franz Rogowski – Passages, Undine), whose own journey has brought him to the tenement building next door.

Curator’s Note
Andrea Arnold’s latest film made its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

A bold and compassionate exploration of this chaotic corner of the world, Bird is told through Arnold’s signature social realist lens, but without any fear of breaking through these stylistic conventions and letting the film lead the way.

Newcomers Nykiya Adams and Jason Buda play Bailey and her brother, Hunter, both navigating their unchecked adolescence with volatility and violence always within arm’s reach. Fans of Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C., keep an eye out for guitarist Carlos O’Connell making his acting debut.

– Reece Goodwin, Senior Programmer (Film & Screen Industry)