HOW TO BUILD A GIRL

UK, 2019, 102 minutes, Colour.

Benny Feldstein, Alfie Allen, Paddy Considine and, Joanna Scanln, Emma Thompson, Chris O'Dowd, Michael Sheen, Lucy Punch, Sharon Horgan, Gemma Arteton, Lily Allen, Alexei Sayle.

Directed by Coky Giedroyc.

An ironic title. This is a wry comedy about a young woman from an estate in Wolverhampton who has ambitions. She wants to be a writer, reviewer, takes seriously the material that she writes but it is not taken seriously by authorities or experts, humiliating her.

She is played by American Beanie Feldstein, there is a strong British supporting cast, Paddy Considine is her father who wants to be a rock star, cameos by Emma Thompson and Chris O’Dowd, and guest stars representing celebrities: Michael Sheen as Freud, Lily Allen as Elizabeth Taylor, Alexei Sayle is Karl Marx… Pictures on her bedroom wall.

The film follows Johanna’s ups and downs, nervous on television and making a fool of herself, moving to London, writing, submitting, being laughed at. She also becomes involved with a singer who supports her, bringing her onstage – but she enhances her relationship with him, especially in an article about him. She finds her place in the music scene.

Given the ups and downs of the world of journalists and critics, she realises that there is a future in becoming a savage critic, changing her name to Dolly Wilde, and becoming very successful with her harsh opinions – including a harsh article about the singer, personal details, her relationship with him.

With some of her interviews, she also reveals that her father was illegally breeding border collies and his pension is withdrawn.

Johanna becomes enmeshed in her new world, a world of alcohol, sexual activity, cynicism. She also wins an award “Arsehole of the Year”.

Ultimately, a challenge from the singer, a challenge from others, and she has to reassess her life, apologising, telling the story of her failings, and being employed to write a positive column, How to Build a Girl.