Finding the frame in Lady bird
Opening sequence
What is finding the frame?
The main message behind the finding the frame is to convey the message that “anything and everything that is included in the composition or frame of a shot is there for a specific purpose” and “every shot counts no matter how inconsequential it may seem”.
In this post I will be showing the events of how lady bird uses finding the frame to improve the quality of the film:
Overview:
Opens with a quiet from John Didion feminist quotation
Then we see Birds Eye view shot lady bird and her mom lying on a bed they are sleeping in similar positions and similar PJS implying they are similar looking almost identical
Both facing each other
Centrally framed
Both taking up as much space as each other
From the first shot we the audience realise they are similar
Lady bird doesn’t realise she is similar to her mum but we do
Even their breathing is similar
Implies closeness and intimacy
then we cut into dialogue of them 2 talking peacefully in each others company
The first thing that is said is a question about her identity “do I look like I’m from Sacramento”.
She is looking in front of a mirror
The mother is tidying the room
Stereotypical teenager worrying about her identity and the mum looking after the family.
Shot ends as they both sit with each other at the edge of the bed sitting in similar position emphasises closeness and intimacy.
As they sit on the bed we have a J-CUT to cut into a shot of the road we hear the non diegetic audio before it talks about a mother’s love and cuts into the car.
Another mother child relationship, hits home.
shortly followed by a 2 shot of the 2 girls in the car.
In this shot they are also in the shot equally and look very similar and both respond in the same way. A moment of intimacy, the calm before the storm
They both finish the radio and start crying so we know this is meaningful to them.
The next 2 shots shows a close up of the each of the girls as they lean away from each other implying that this is the end of their peace.
We cut into a close up of lady bird looking sad when she starts talking.
There is a change in the mood when the lady bird says “are you serious”
Implying this is the end of their peace
Peace between them is shattered there is now tension
They both overreact to each others over reaction and it ends in chaos
Shot reverse shot of the 2 characters starting to build tension and start arguing.
then argue to each other about college
The car turns as the conversion turns and spins out of control
The edit favours lady bird we see more shots of her when she is speaking and her reaction so we know she is the main character.
As the conversation goes on they look at each other less
When they had the meaningful moment they kept intimately glancing at each other
Lady bird gets frustrated and jumps out the car this is the first of the many bad decisions ladybird makes throughout the film.
Reaction shot of the mom screaming reaction when she sees lady bird jump out
Then we cut into a close up shot of the cast saying “f u mom” so we know this was the outcome of her jumping out of the car
The cast is pink typical feminine colour
“F U MOM” is handwritten showing that its from ladybirds point of view
We also learn that the peaceful friendliness at the start of the film was a one of and is out of the norm
Then we see her full body in the church
She stands out as she is unbothered and not joining in
She is unkept and bored which shows her views on the religion and school that she clearly hates
Then we cut to the title car “LADY BIRD”
However written in quite a “old time” font which stands out as it is the opposite to how lady bird would design the writing
It’s old and not new and cool which is how lady bird wants to be seen
Traditional church and classroom but we see ladybird not fitting in and deliberately trying to be different.
