After 13 years in development, we finally have a glimpse of Lena Dunham’s adaptation of Karen Cushman’s 1994 historical YA novel, “Catherine Called Birdy.” Teen Vogue premiered a first-look clip and spoke to writer-director Dunham and star Bella Ramsey (“Game of Thrones”) about the film.
Set in 13th century England, the story sees Birdy (Ramsey) being married off at age 14 to solve her father’s (Andrew Scott) money problems. In the clip, before that shoe drops, Birdy enthusiastically shares her “truest passions” with the audience. She loves “critiquing [her] father’s horrible swordplay” — “Fight me harder,” he instructs his teacher. “Not too hard though!”; “causing mischief in the village”; and “listening through doors [she] should not listen through.”
She discovers her father’s in the financial hole when doing the latter. Sir Rollo is talking with his advisor (Akemnji Ndifornyen), who reminds him of a tiger Rollo had brought over from Siberia as an example of his unchecked spending.
Ramsey sees Birdy as someone who chafes against societal norms. “Her recklessness and joy and passion doesn’t fit with the societal role she’s been assigned,” she explained to Teen Vogue. “[The film] is about her fighting these customs with justified rage and humor and open-mindedness. She’s basically trying to forge her own path in a world stacked against her in that regard.”
Dunham, meanwhile, realized there are parallels between Birdy’s world and our own. “I wanted to highlight this girl who was living in the wrong time. If she was living in 2022, she would be a pretty classic tomboy or able to explore the gender binary, she’d be able to play all the sports she wanted,” she said. “But there are still as we know, huge challenges to being a woman in this day and age, and a teenage girl.”
The multi-hyphenate continued, “While it feels very far away that a 13-year-old is being asked to marry a 50-year-old, we still have plenty of barbaric customs that control the way people’s bodies are dealt with…There’s so many aspects to modern life that still speak to themes of the book. I really love that we were able to highlight aspects of that, and the way the world has changed but also the way it’s stayed the same. And do it with some humor.”
Another Dunham feature, “Sharp Stick,” was acquired by Utopia following its Sundance premiere in January. She has also directed episodes of the show she created and toplined, “Girls,” an ep of “Industry,” and her breakout, the coming-of-age feature “Tiny Furniture.” Dunham exec produces the HBO Max series “Generation.” Eight Emmy nominations, a BAFTA, an Independent Spirit Award, a WGA Award, and a Golden Globe are among her many accolades.
Best known for her scene-stealing turn as Lyanna Mormont in “Game of Thrones,” Ramsey’s credits also include “His Dark Materials” and “Hilda.”
“Catherine Called Birdy” hits theaters September 23 and Prime Video October 7. Billie Piper also stars.
