29/28
Bailey lives with her brother Hunter and father Bug, who raise them alone in a squat in north Kent. Bug doesn’t have much time to devote to them. Bailey seeks attention and adventure elsewhere. Barry Keoghan dropped out of Gladiator II (2024) to star in this film instead. Edited as Fontaines D.C.: Bug (2024). Too RealWritten by Grian Chatten, Connor Curley, Connor Deegan III, Tom Cole and Carlos O’Connell. Performed by Fontaines D.C.. This is a brilliant coming-of-age story, reminiscent of “Wild Diamond”; but, in my opinion, executed even better. We follow the life of Bailey, a 12-year-old girl living in the slums of the UK. It’s clear from the start that Bailey sees the world differently than those around her. Nature, animals, and especially birds symbolize freedom and lightness, a feeling that is expressed vividly. Bailey meets Bird, a character who embodies the person she aspires to become. Initially, she mocks Bird, but in the end her mockery turns to admiration. Bailey faces many challenges, and Bird subtly guides her towards solutions. Some questions remain unanswered, but for me, specific answers are of little importance. The journey and Bailey’s experiences are truly important.