By Natasha Ramaswamy |Co-editor in Chief'Ladybird' is a coming of age comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig that tells the tale of the free-spirited Christine McPherson, who prefers to be called Lady Bird, a name that in her own words, “was given to [her] by [her]”. The film focuses on the meaning of love in a modern family, and how teenagers go about trying to express their own identities, even when they aren’t quite sure who they are yet.Ladybird herself as a character is a far cry from a girl gone wild, but her struggles arise from her desperation to find her individuality. In her naiveté, she blames her hometown, Sacramento, for suppressing her, and does everything in her power to escape it.Now in her senior year of high school, Ladybird decides to embark on a quest of self-discovery by experiencing what she considers to be the rites of passages to adulthood. Along the way, between the struggle of college applications that most students know all too well, Ladybird falls in love for the first time, struggles with the idea of losing her virginity, and is forced to decide between friendship and popularity. All of this is only made more complicated by Ladybird’s inability to please her ever-disapproving mother, who in turn has great difficulty expressing her love to her seemingly rebellious daughter.However, despite the seemingly familiar story of an estranged teen trying to figure out her life, what makes 'Ladybird' different is the presence of stark reality. Every part of the movie, from the humor to the dialogue, comes across as distinctly real, an authentic look at the ups and downs of coming into adulthood. Gerwig doesn’t romanticize the struggles that Ladybird faces, nor does she trivialize them. Though many of her characters initially seem to be stereotypical, it soon becomes apparent that nobody is without complications, and often, relationships can be as trying as they are rewarding.In the end, it is this candid look at life that makes it easy to see why 'Ladybird' was nominated for four different Golden Globe awards, out of which it won in both the categories of Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture and Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Motion Picture for actress Saoirse Ronan, who plays the titular character of Christine “Ladybird" McPherson. For anyone who wants to relieve the experience of growing up or just those who want a good laugh, I would highly recommend taking the time to see this award-winning film and experiencing the journey of life from a Ladybird’s eye view. Contact Natasha Ramaswamy at NRAMASWAMY@augusta.edu