Ladybird Ladybird (1994)

Ladybird Ladybird: Directed by Ken Loach. With Crissy Rock, Vladimir Vega, Sandie Lavelle, Mauricio Venegas. This Ken Loach docu-drama relates the story of a British woman’s fight with Social Services over the care of her children. Maggie has a history of bouncing from one abusive relationship to another. She has four children, of four different fathers, who came to the attention of Social Services when they were injured in a fire. Subsequently, Maggie was found to be an “unfit mother” and her children were removed from her care. She finally meets the man of her dreams, a Paraguayan expatriate, and they start a family together. Unfortunately, Social Services seems unwilling to accept that her life has changed and rends them from their new children. She and Jorge together, and separately, fight Social Services, Immigration, and other government bureaucrats in a desperate battle to make their family whole again.

“I have seen several Ken Loach films in the past like BREAD AND ROSES and MY NAME IS JOE and I really think that Loach is one of the most talented directors around.His social films are very intense and miles away from your regular Hollywood or Pinewood movie.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI thought that MY NAME IS JOE was an intense drama(and it is very much so)but LADYBIRD LADYBIRD is the absolute powerhouse of drama and despare.The acting performances of Crissy Rock and Vladimir Vega are so intense that it seems to be really happening.Loach uses a lot of unexperienced actors to play in his films and this time around itu0026#39;s no different.Both Rock and Vega make their cinema debut here.The fact that Loach uses these unfamiliar people enhances the reality of his films.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe verbal fights between Rock and the social workers are almost unwatchable as are the fights she has with her former boyfriend. The way that Loach uses flashbacks to tell the story is very well done.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eStill there are some points of criticism.I know that the film is based on a true story but some things are not very realistic.For instance why should a political refugee of Paraguay start an affair with a sad and unbalanced woman from Mersy Side.Also the parts with the social workers are slightly overdone,but maybe itu0026#39;s the truth.If it is,then Iu0026#39;m afraid to say that these folks are absolutely cold hearted.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLADYBIRD LADYBIRD is the most intense film Iu0026#39;ve ever seen.Itu0026#39;s very hard to watch but even harder not to. 9/10”