38/10
Bailey seeks attention and adventure elsewhere
Tale
Bailey lives with her brother Hunter and her father Bug, who raises her alone in a squat in north Kent. Bug doesn’t have much time for her. Barry Keoghan dropped out of Gladiator II (2024) to star in this film instead.
Edited together in Fontaines DC: Bug (2024)
This film breaks convention with its cinematography, using shaky, dynamic and fast shots. It’s a stylistic choice that I both loved and hated. The aspect ratio and film format added an aesthetic that perfectly matched the film’s gritty, raw tone.
The plot is a nostalgic-feeling montage of clips that weaves love, hate, drama and conflict into Bailey’s story
The soundtrack, a mix of rock, ambient, UK hip hop and indie, is another standout element that immerses you in the culture the film depicts. I was fascinated by the glimpses into Bailey’s life – how she lives, the people she meets, and the culture that shapes her world. It’s so far removed from the experience of the average middle-class person that it feels authentic and intimate.
Still, it’s refreshing to see a story centered around flawed, raw characters
At times the narrative switches between characters, leaving me unsure of the film’s focus. We’re used to polished films with beautiful people, but Bird embraces the messy and ugly – and finds beauty in it. The film feels deeply personal, leaving me with shared emotions and mixed feelings.