25/23
Bailey lives with his brother Hunter and father Bog, who is raising them alone in a squat in north Kent. God doesn’t have much time to devote to them. Bailey is looking elsewhere for attention and adventure.. Barry Keoghan dropped out of Gladiator 2 (2024) to star in this film instead.. Mounted at Fontaines D.C.: Bug (2024). Too Real Screenplay: Ryan Chatten, Conor Curley, Conor Deegan III, Tom Call and Carlos O’Connell Produced by Fontaines D.C. This is a great coming-of-age story, reminiscent of Wild Diamond, but in my opinion, even better. We follow the life of Bailey, a 12-year-old girl living in impoverished areas of Great Britain. From the very beginning, it becomes clear that Bailey perceives the world differently than the people around her. Nature, animals and especially birds symbolize freedom and lightness, a feeling that is conveyed very vividly. Bailey meets Bird, a character who embodies the person she aspires to become. At first she mocks the Bird, but by the end her mockery turns to admiration. Bailey faces numerous challenges, and Bird subtly guides her to a solution. Some questions remain unanswered, but for me specific answers are not important. Bailey’s journey and growth is what really matters.