You don’t have to be from California or have grown up in the early 2000s to appreciate “Lady Bird,” the beautiful new film from Greta Gerwig.

The indie darling wrote and directed this semi-autobiographical film that should ring true with almost every audience member. It’s a personal story, but also a coming-of-age tale that anyone can identify with, at least in part. Gerwig handles it with extreme confidence, and it doesn’t hurt to have a strong cast anchored by a pair of actresses who probably have Oscar nominations in their futures.

“Lady Bird” follows Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) during her senior year at a private Catholic school in Sacramento, Calif. Christine is a typical teen, navigating friendships and relationships while clashing with her mother, Marion (Laurie Metcalf), over everything from family finances to college plans. Gerwig allows this character’s introspection to breathe, balancing some very funny and very poignant moments. It is fresh and authentic, because it feels like we are seeing Gerwig put her heart and soul onto the screen, with Ronan serving as the perfect muse.

If her Oscar-nominated role in “Brooklyn” announced her arrival, then “Lady Bird” establishes Ronan as one of her generation’s most gifted actresses. The 23-year-old completely nails the nuances of Christine, including her awkwardness and uncertainty as she begins her quest to fly away from the family nest.

Metcalf matches her in every scene as a mother who knows nothing but tough love. Her constant nagging might seem to be too much for Christine to deal with, but it is easy to see Marion’s deep love for her daughter and desire for a better life under the surface of that tough facade. She feels like a real mother – in fact, at times it felt like I was watching my own mother, which makes her character that much more believable and their relationship that much more credible.

There are other strong performances in the cast. Tracy Letts is perfect as Christine’s out-of-work father. Lucas Hedges and Timothée Chalamet are good as classmates and love interests, while Beanie Feldstein is delightful as Christine’s best friend. 

But it all comes back to Ronan and Metcalf, who create a mother-daughter relationship onscreen that is as memorable as any in recent memory. Gerwig allows both to shine, resulting in a deeply moving – and often very funny – story that is not to be missed.

It’s one of the best films of 2017.

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf

Directed by: Greta Gerwig

Rating: R for language, sexual content, brief graphic nudity and teen partying

Playing at: Regal Green Hills Stadium 16 in Nashville

Grade: A