Written and directed by Andrea Arnold, A bird premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7. The drama stars Nykiya Adams as twelve-year-old Bailey, who struggles to accept her father's affair. Although he loves his daughter, Bug (Barry Keoghan) is “ignorant of the needs of a growing girl” and doesn't understand the extent of Bailey's injuries. Bailey seeks solace in nature, as her ability to communicate with animals and connect with the physical world prepares her for what lies ahead.
While A bird Adams' first feature, Keoghan is known for projects such as Forever, Batmanagain Saltburn. This actor is also going to act in the play The Peaky Blinders the movie alongside Cillian Murphy. Adams and Keoghan teamed up during their red carpet interviews, with the latter making her lead single. Adams also showed support for Keoghan's future roles, showing a wonderful bond between the actors.
(((THENEXUS))) spoke with Keoghan and Adams at the Toronto International Film Festival about what they learned while working together A birdand the relationships of their on-screen characters.
Barry Keoghan and Nykiya Adams Have the Spirit of a Bird Sibling
“There are these fathers who are really young, and, obviously, they have this luxury of arguing with each other like brother and sister.”
(((THENEXUS))): Nykiya, congratulations on your first feature. What do you all feel like you learned from each other while filming A bird?
Barry Keoghan: I learned to dress well. No, I'm always fascinated and I always watch how young actors come, whereas Nykiya had no training, so I kept watching and watching how she did her job. It was remarkable.
Nykiya Adams: I just learned to be yourself and continue to be yourself. That's what I learned. That's what I took from the film.
How would you describe the dynamics of your characters?
Barry Keoghan: I think probably brother and sister. There are those fathers who are very young in life, and, obviously, they have this comfort of arguing with each other like brother and sister, so I treated him like that.
About Andrea Arnold's Bird
“A gripping, ultimately heartwarming story that deals with themes of identity, sexism, loneliness, and class struggle.”
Twelve-year-old Bailey (played by a sympathetic immigrant Nykiya Adams) lives with her father Bug (a devoted but emotionally disturbed Barry Keoghan) in a house full of paintings. When Bug informs her that he will soon marry his new girlfriend, Bailey is angry and hurt, because what will happen to her? Her mother lives with a violent, cruel man, and while Bug flirts dangerously with her daughter, she can't ignore the teenage girl's needs.
As he often does, Bailey retreats to the fields outside his hometown to find solace. It is here that he is most present, with an extraordinary ability to communicate with animals and see nature in a profound way. It is on one of these trips that Bailey meets a mysterious, yet deeply meaningful, figure who helps her when she is forced to deal with her mother's abusive partner.
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A bird premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7.
Source: (((THENEXUS))) Plus