FGBFF 2018 – ‘The Book of Birdie’ Movie Review

I’ve watched a plethora of shorts for the 2018 Final Girls Berlin Festival and they’ve all be exceptionally extraordinary. I recently watched my first full feature from the festival, The Book of Birdie. Did it live up to the rest?

This bizarre new tale is directed by storyboard artist Elizabeth E. Schuch and co-written by herself and Anami Tara Shucart in the women’s full length feature debut. The cast includes Lauren Ashley Carter lookalike Ilirida Memedovski, Suzan Crowley (The Devil Inside 2012), Kymberly Mellen (The Unborn 2009), Kathryn Browning (House of Cards TV series), and more.

Official Synopsis for The Book of Birdie:

When a fragile, imaginative teenager is placed in a dying convent, will her unusual obsessions and hallucinations become a mark of sainthood or dark heresy?

This one caught me by surprise. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s a super intense, dark coming of age story packed full of mystery, pain, and beauty.

Birdie, played by Ilirida Memedovski, is such a fascinating character. She’s strange. unusual, and most of all, fabulous. She is definitely not the girl next door. Watching her on screen was like reading a best-selling book, sucked in and quickly turning the pages to see what she would do next.

Beyond the acting, the best part of the film is the appearance. It was cinematically beautiful. There were countless breathtaking scenes, an abundance of color, and plenty of symbolism.

Final Thoughts on The Book of Birdie:

Although I don’t think this will be a film that everyone will understand or enjoy, I highly recommend giving it a chance at least once. The Book of Birdie is cinematic gold and is far different from anything out there right now.