Bailey lives with her brother Hunter and single-parent father Bug in a squat in North Kent. Bug doesn’t have much time to devote to them. Bailey seeks attention and adventure elsewhere. Barry Keoghan dropped out of Gladiator II (2024) to star in this film. This is an excellent coming-of-age story reminiscent of "Wild Diamond" but in my opinion it is done even better. We follow the life of Bailey, a 12-year-old girl who lives in poor areas of the United Kingdom. From the beginning, it’s clear that Bailey sees the world differently than the people around her. Nature, animals and especially birds symbolize freedom and ease, which is a sensation that appears live. Bailey meets Bird, a character who embodies the person she aspires to become. At first she mocks Bird, but eventually her derision turns to admiration. Bailey faces many challenges and Bird subtly guides her to a solution. Some questions remain unanswered, but for me the specific answers are immaterial. The journey and growth of Bailey’s experience is what really matters. Check out our list of exciting new films from this year’s film festivals, including Venice, TIFF, the New York Film Festival and more.