Writer/director/producer/actor Lena Dunham has had a couple of quiet years. Maybe that’s because she became Internet persona non grata from oversharing on social media and perhaps including a little bit too many TMI personal details in her books. Whether she deserved that online abuse or not (and look, people usually go too far), she’s back and back with a vengeance in 2022.
Dunham’s already had one film arrive this year, the coming-of-sexual-age comedy “Sharp Stick” starring Kristine Froseth, that premiered at Sundance earlier this year, and it just came out in limited release over a week ago. Now, she’s back with yet another 2022 movie and another coming-of-age comedy. This one is pretty different, though, since it’s a coming-of-age film set in Medieval times. This one stars Bella Ramsey, known for her small but memorable part in “Game Of Thrones,” Lesley Sharp, Sophie Okonedo, Joe Alwyn, Isis Hainsworth, Dean-Charles Chapman, Paul Kaye, with Billie Piper and Andrew Scott.
The film is written and directed by Dunham and based on the book “Catherine, Called Birdy” by Karen Cushman. Here’s the official synopsis:
The year? 1290. In the Medieval English village of Stonebridge, Lady Catherine (known as Birdy) is the youngest child of Lord Rollo and the Lady Aislinn. Her playground is Stonebridge Manor, a house that, like the family, has seen better days. Financially destitute and utterly greedy, Rollo sees his daughter as his path out of financial ruin by marrying her off to a wealthy man for money and land. But Birdy, like all the great teen heroines, is 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 vilest suitor of all arrives, they are presented with the ultimate test of love for their daughter.
“Catherine Called Birdy” will release in theaters September 23 and globally on Prime Video October 7. Before that, the film will premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Watch the new trailer below.