The trailer for Lena Dunham’s new movie Catherine Called Birdy gives the Girls and Sharp Stick director a chance to take another crack at what she does best: creating well-rounded, autonomous women on screen. But this time, she’s not portraying feminist dynamics in 2012 or 2022 — her protagonist, Lady Catherine (known as Birdy), lives in the year 1290.
Based on the book by Karen Cushman, Catherine Called Birdy is written and directed by Lena Dunham. The story follows Birdy (Bella Ramsey), a teenage girl who lives in the medieval English village of Stonebridge, and she’s the youngest child of Lord Rollo (Fleabag‘s Andrew Scott) and Lady Aislinn (Billie Piper). But there’s a problem — Lord Rollo is destitute and greedy, and the family is in financial ruin. Lord Rollo spies an opportunity by marrying Birdy off to a wealthy man in exchange for money and land. But Birdy isn’t about to be sold off like cattle.
“You don’t get to decide who we are, where we go, or how much we cost like we’re just things. We’re not things. We’re people!” Birdy says of women in the trailer. “And we can think, and we can hear, and we can feel!”
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Amazon describes Birdy as “spirited, clever and adventurous — and ready to put off any suitor that comes calling in increasingly ingenious ways. Her imagination, defiance and deep belief in her own right to independence put her on a collision course with her parents. When the most vile suitor of all arrives, they are presented with the ultimate test of love for their daughter.”
One of Birdy’s suitors is played by Russell Brand, adding to a star-studded cast that also includes Conversations With Friends star (and boyfriend of Taylor Swift) Joe Alwyn; Dean Charles-Chapman; Paul Kaye; Ralph Ineson; Isis Hainsworth; Archie Renaux; Douggie McMeekin; Saskia Chana; Akemnji Ndifornyen; Christophe Tek; Rita Bernard-Shaw; Jordan Adene, and more.
Catherine Called Birdy hits theaters on Sept. 23 and heads to Amazon Prime Video on Oct. 7. The movie is produced by Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Lena Dunham and Jo Wallett.
Watch the trailer for Catherine Called Birdy above.
Main Image: A still from Catherine Called Birdy directed by Lena Dunham courtesy of Amazon Prime Video
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