Twelve-year-old Bailey lives with her father and stepbrother in a squat that functions like a commune for many other outcasts. Not only is she denied joining her brother and his friends in the vigilante gang that keeps the local bullies in check, but the news of her father’s upcoming remarriage drives her to the brink. While her father and the other residents attempt to make drugs from the slime of a special type of toad, Bailey encounters a stranger—a ‘child adult’ who understands her better than anyone else around her. This stranger, who has returned to his hometown after years, is trying to piece together his fragmented memories and find his missing parents.
Andrea Arnold’s films are invariably about poverty—whether trapped in council flats or living on the streets. We also know that her intent is not emotional exploitation but a glimmer of hope that things will work out despite the odds, as she calmly portrays the difficult conditions surrounding her characters. Bird diverges from Arnold’s previous works with a sense of magical realism. Yet, it still embodies her signature style—a unique coming-of-age story enriched by original film music composed by Burial and featuring an eclectic soundtrack ranging from Blur to Sleaford Mods, Coldplay, and Fontaines D.C.
20 September Friday, 12.30, Vural
21 September Saturday, 21.00, İnönü
Age Restriction: 18+
The Ayvalık International Film Festival is being organized by the Eye Society, founded in February 2022. Although a new member of the rich cultural and artistic life of Ayvalık, the Seyir Association has been founded by a team with strong experience in the field.
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