Coming Of Age Movies That Should Be Required Viewing

After years in front of the camera in films like Jackie and Frances Ha, indie star Greta Gerwig took to the director's chair in 2017 for her debut solo effort, Lady Bird. The film, which stars Saoirse Ronan in the title role, tells the story of high school senior Christine McPherson, who goes by the name "Lady Bird," and her strained relationship with her mother Marion, played by Laurie Metcalf. Lady Bird struggles to find herself in a variety of ways: She gains and loses crushes, interrupts school assemblies, and fights with her best friend. By the time she gets to college, she realizes she actually misses her family and hometown, despite the fervor with which she longed to escape both for years. The film ends with a phone call home, in which she thanks her mom for everything she's done for her.

Lady Bird scored a slew of Oscar nominations, a tidal wave of critical praise, and an impressive box office. It's no mystery as to why: The movie boasts Beanie Feldstein, Tracy Letts, and Timothée Chalamet (who would go on to collaborate with both Ronan and Gerwig again in Little Women) in supporting roles, a heartfelt script, and an impeccable eye for detail. Lady Bird is a funny, touching, and raw retelling of what it really feels like to be a teenage girl, and what it really feels like to move on — and discover you're not quite as grown-up as  you thought.