Did you know that there isn’t an audio clip of Hank Hill saying “Laaady Biiiiird” on Youtube? That’s an odd start to a review, I know, but its criminal that this beloved and iconic phrasing couldn’t be shared, even as a mediocre joke. I digress. Have you heard of Lady Bird? The film lit blogs and news outlets aflame with its perfect Rotten Tomatoes score through almost 170 reviews. I asked several friends if they had ever heard of the movie. Some had, but mistakenly thought it was about Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson (whom Hank Hill’s beloved bloodhound was named for). Others had not (the titular character is not, in fact, named in honor of Johnson). But I tell you what (see what I did there?), Lady Bird is a powerful, deeply emotional, and painfully realistic coming-of-age film about an adolescent’s journey through high school, a touching love letter to the city of Sacramento, California, and most prominently, the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters. The movie is nothing short of a stunning triumph.

I actually saw this movie twice. I had an intense reaction during my first viewing and I didn’t know why. But I waited, let the film ruminate in my mind, and saw it again. It was during my second viewing that I understood why I had such an initial negative reaction. The film may be about a young woman from a lower middle-class family attending an expensive Catholic school in Sacramento on a scholarship, but the film’s themes are all-encompassing, crossing all boundaries and cultures. Lady Bird excels at exhibiting the pivotal milestones of any American teenager, like smoking weed for the first time, trying to fit in with the cool crowd, first loves, broken hearts, school dances, etc. Even more so, if, like me, you came from a lower middle-class family and had a strained relationship with your strong-willed mother. If you’re an American and went to high school, chances are you can relate to this film, no matter your socioeconomic class, gender, or race.