Bird

2024, 1h 59min, Drama

Directors: Andrea Arnold

Stars: Nykiya Adams, Franz Rogowski, Barry Keoghan

Bailey is a 12-year-old girl growing up in a squat in Gravesend, north Kent, with her chaotic single dad Bug and older brother Hunter. Their home is crowded, noisy, and unstable, so she spends her days roaming the estate, filming seabirds and chasing any hint of excitement. As puberty approaches, she feels both fiercely independent and painfully ignored, torn between loyalty to her family and the urge to escape. Her world shifts when she crosses paths with Bird, a soft-spoken, unconventional stranger whose calm presence stands out against the harshness around her. The film blends gritty everyday reality with a faint, dreamlike edge, creating a tender, rough-edged coming-of-age story about finding safety, wonder, and connection on society’s margins.