Letting Go in Lady Bird by Ethan Shtifman

Lady Bird jumps out of her mother's car.

ethanshtifman_87 — 2024-04-24 18:12:59 UTC

This rash decision happens after Lady Bird's mother, Marion, tries to shut down her dreams of moving to the East Coast for college. Lady Bird wants to move east because she believes that the East Coast has more "culture" than California. Marion argues that they can barely afford in-state colleges. Exiting out of the car while it is moving is a physical representation of her letting go of her mother's wishes and advice. Despite Marion merely stating the reality of the situation, Lady Bird doesn't listen.

Lady Bird distances herself from Julie and theater.

ethanshtifman_87 — 2024-04-24 18:18:02 UTC

Lady Bird lets go of her true friend, Julie, and her desire to be in the theater program because she wants to seem cool to her peers. Lady Bird desires to fit in with people like Jenna and Kyle despite her interests not lining up with theirs. This goes as far as Lady Bird lying about where she lives since she is ashamed of her lack of wealth compared to Jenna (who lives in a massive, expensive house) and Kyle (despite seeming anti-capitalist and punk, he is fairly well off as evidenced by him driving a — new at the time— BMW) By letting go of Julie and her love of theater, she is getting rid of her true passion and her only true friend in favor of social standing.

Lady Bird forgives Danny and accepts him for being gay.

ethanshtifman_87 — 2024-04-24 18:19:04 UTC

After Lady Bird and Danny act in a play together, their relationship is broken when she finds Danny kissing a boy. She feels betrayed and hurt, and a rift grows between them. After they encounter each other at Lady Bird's job, Danny expresses his fear of coming out as gay. She realizes that his fears as a closeted gay guy in a conservative household are more important than their failed relationship, so she lets go of her grudge against Danny and agrees to keep his sexuality a secret.

Lady Bird coming clean to Jenna about where she lives and her lack of wealth.

ethanshtifman_87 — 2024-04-24 18:24:50 UTC

When Jenna asks Lady Bird where she lives, Lady Bird lies and tells her that she lives at Danny's grandmother's house. This house is her dream home because of the same she feels living in a poorer household. She doesn't want to reveal to her "cool" friends that she is not rich, so she decides to lie. When her lie is uncovered by Jenna, Lady Bird lets go of her shame and comes clean.

Lady Bird leaves Kyle and goes to prom with Julie.

ethanshtifman_87 — 2024-04-24 18:26:10 UTC

Lady Bird wants to go to her school's prom with Kyle, but he doesn't want to go. Instead of going along with him, Lady Bird lets Kyle go in favor of repairing her relationship with Julie. She gives up trying to look cool and embraces her true friend. They go to prom together and have a lot of fun.

Lady Bird goes across the country for college.

ethanshtifman_87 — 2024-04-24 18:28:07 UTC

Lady Bird gets accepted to a school on the East Coast and decides to travel across the country to attend there. This is the first time she is truly away from her parents, so it can be seen as her finally letting go of them. This is a bittersweet moment as Lady Bird finally gets full independence, but she isn't able to get a proper goodbye from Marion because of her own refusal to let go of Lady Bird.

Christine attending church and leaving a message for her mother.

ethanshtifman_87 — 2024-04-25 15:29:07 UTC

Lady Bird lets go of her assumed name and goes back to her real name, Christine, after reading all of the discarded letters from Marion to her that Christine's father collected. After being hospitalized for drinking too much, she attends church and leaves a message for her mother. She finally lets go of the differences between herself and Marion and thanks her for all she did out of love.