In bird, Andrea Arnold blends fairytale-like wonder with deep emotional currents, with Barry Keoghan delivering a heartbreaking performance as a flawed, charismatic father
In Bird, Andrea Arnold’s newest film, she captures the delicate balance of vulnerability and hope in a magical coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of a broken family. The movie centres on Bailey, a 12-year-old girl whose life is defined by neglect and emotional isolation. Her father, Bug, portrayed by Barry Keoghan, is a deeply flawed, impulsive man whose life choices have trapped him in a cycle of stunted growth. Bug spends his days aimlessly zipping around on a scooter, pursuing a bizarre plan involving hallucinogenic toads while preparing for a wedding to a woman he’s known for mere months.
Keoghan’s portrayal of Bug is deeply poignant, with his magnetic charisma and erratic behaviour covering a layer of deep sadness. He represents both the wild, unfulfilled youth he never got to experience and the possible danger that comes with his immaturity, particularly for his young children. Bug’s relationship with Bailey is strained, and his neglectful parenting is in sharp contrast to her longing for stability and love. Meanwhile, Bailey’s mother, who lives elsewhere, is consumed by her struggles, leaving Bailey caught between two worlds of neglect.
In this fragile world, Bird, played by Franz Rogowski, enters Bailey’s life almost like a figure from a fairytale. Eccentric and enigmatic, Bird offers Bailey a kind of companionship and escape from her troubled reality. He arrives when she needs him most, although his origins remain a mystery. His role in the story isn’t as important as what he symbolizes to Bailey—perhaps a guardian angel, or simply the symbol of hope that she desperately craves.
Arnold’s cinematography, shot on 16mm film by Robbie Ryan, adds a tactile, nostalgic texture to the narrative, blending Bailey’s digital world with the analogue reality she inhabits. This visual style enhances the film’s exploration of seeing and being seen—an essential theme in Bailey’s life. Bailey records her surroundings with a keen eye, often documenting the moments and conversations that shape her understanding of the world. Her journey of self-discovery culminates in a quiet, yet profound, moment of connection with her future stepmother, Kayleigh. When Bailey gets her first period, Kayleigh, despite her grogginess, offers a simple, compassionate gesture—a tampon and some painkillers. In this moment, Arnold underscores the subtle, tender kindness that can pierce through the layers of confusion and pain.
Bird explores themes of isolation, growth, and the search for belonging. With her usual sensitivity, Arnold creates a world where the harsh realities of life and the magical possibilities of connection intertwine, leaving us with a sense of both sadness and hope.
