Catherine Called Birdy is a historical comedy written and directed by Lena Dunham, and is an adaptation of the novel of the same name.
Catherine, nicknamed "Birdy" (Bella Ramsey), is a spirited teenage girl living in a 13th-century English village. She initially lives a carefree life as the youngest child of Lord Rollo (Andrew Scott) and Lady Aislinn (Billie Piper): she enjoys pestering her older brothers Edward (Archie Renaux) and Robert (Dean-Charles Chapman), bothering her nursemaid Morwenna (Lesley Sharp), and spending time with her dear friends Perkin (Michael Woolfitt) and Lady Aelis (Isis Hainsworth).
But things change once Birdy's monthly tidings come — her father now sees an opportunity to relieve some debt by marrying her off to a rich man. An anguished Birdy decides to take matters into her own hand and scare them off through unconventional ways. But when her parents arrange a marriage to a suitor nonplussed by her tactics (Paul Kaye), Birdy must face her future.
Other actors with supporting roles include Joe Alwyn as Birdy's uncle George and Sophie Okonedo as the eccentric rich widow Ethelfritha.
The film debuted at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival prior to a limited release on September 23 of that year. It was then released on Prime Video October 7, 2022.
Tropes:
- Adaptational Alternate Ending: The novel ends with Shaggy Beard's son inheriting the betrothal, and Birdy deciding that she might get along with him better. The film ends with Rollo dueling Shaggy Beard to negate the betrothal, so Birdy can spend more time with her family.
- Adaptational Personality Change: Birdy's father is a far more sympathetic character than he is in the novel. In the book, he frequently beats her, and sees her as nothing but a potential asset to be sold in marriage; he thinks it "no better and no worse" that she marry Shaggy Beard's son rather than the odious man himself. The film gives him several scenes where he's selfish but somewhat affectionate, and ultimately gets her out of the betrothal himself.
- Adapted Out: In the book, Catherine has a third brother named Thomas, who is nowhere to be seen in the film.
- Alcoholic Parent: Birdy introduces her hedonistic father Rollo as "very vain and often drunk". He's so out of it that he's whittled away much of the family money.
- Anachronistic Soundtrack: Some scenes in the film utilize 20th and 21st century pop as background music, contrasting the medieval setting. For example, the 1960s song "My Boyfriend's Back" plays as she spends time with George.
- Best Friends-in-Law: Birdy willingly gives her husband's money to her brother Robert so he can marry her best friend Aelis, even though it means that she'll be trapped in an unhappy marriage.
- Big Brother Bully: The only time Robert pauses his picking on his little sister Birdy is when he's tongue-tied around her friend Aelis.
- Black Vikings: Rural medieval England is much more diverse than it would be in real life. For example, several supporting characters (such as Meg, Finneas, Ethelfritha, and Berenice) are played by Black British actors. Some of the suitors are men of color as well, though some of them are mentioned to be in trade.
- Cool Uncle: Birdy adores her handsome Uncle George since he has plenty of war stories and respects her agency.
- Do Not Call Me Sir: By the midpoint of the film Birdy hates being called "Lady" or "Lady Catherine", since it's a reminder of the restrictions upon her.
- The Dung Ages: The film is set in the middle ages, and the opening sees noblewoman Catherine playing about in the muck. Her lady's maid mournfully comments that she had just been bathed a fortnight ago.
- First Period Panic: Birdy gets her period and instantly assumes she's dying. As a medieval noblewoman there's extra weight as her parents can now begin shopping her around to potential husbands, so she tries to hide it for as long as possible.
- Incompatible Orientation: Trying to get out of her arranged marriage, Birdy asks that Perkin elope with her. He turns her down because he's gay.
- Interclass Friendship: The aristocratic Birdy is close friends with the goat boy, Perkin.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Birdy's father Rollo is selfish and abusive, but genuinely loves his wife and eventually sticks up for his daughter, freeing from a horrible marriage.
- Kissing Cousins: Catherine tells Aelis that she wishes that her uncle George was her cousin, because they could marry if they were cousins.
- Mal Mariée: Catherine describes Berenice (age 25) as a noted hater of her husband Gideon (age 81). According to Aelis, Gideon banished the castle baker because he and Berenice were exchanging "wistful glances".
- Nobility Marries Money: Birdy's cash-strapped parents try to find a rich husband for her to get out of debt.Finneas: There are plenty of men foolish enough to trade their fortune for the prefix of 'lord'.
- Primal Scene: Birdy barges in on her mother and father obviously in the middle of intercourse, as Rollo falls off the bed naked.
- Sexy Priest: Birdy assumes that the monks in her brother Edward's abbey are all musty old guys attached to their bibles...until they take their hoods off and are revealed to all be handsome young men.
- Spirited Young Lady: Birdy is a rebellious teenage noblewoman who resents the restrictions upon her due to her gender and status.
