In Gerwig it marks the arrival of a fresh new storytelling voice. The Oscar love is deserving.

Lady Bird combines wisdom and tenderness, humor and grace. It’s light-footed without being lightweight. And it captures, with great feeling, the turbulence of a girl growing up. I can’t recommend it enough.

In one of the warmest affirmations of love, family and friendships on screen, Greta Gerwig tells the story of a 17-year-old’s one year from high school to college, as she rediscovers who and what she is.

With 3 Academy Award nods, Saoirse Ronan, 23, is one of the finest actors of her generation. Lady Bird, however, can’t help but feel like the token nominee at the Oscars.

There’s simply not enough conflict and the characters are not fleshed out, rendering them little more than stereotypes.

Just like the protagonist, ‘Lady Bird’ is awkwardly funny yet bittersweet, making it one of Hollywood’s most original and refreshingly honest films about growing up.

It is ultimately quite an achievement to render something fresh in the vastly milked ‘coming of age’ genre. It is nice to see Gerwig break through as a director and it makes one excited about what film she makes next – it is rare to see a filmmaker with such a grasp on a story’s soul, although one does hope she tackles a story with a little more depth next.

The film is fast-paced, emotionally honest, well-performed and intelligently structured.

The film, like life itself, cannot attain perfection even though it tries exceedingly hard. But the fact that its story found some originality in those of the seven billion that inhabit the world is commendable.