Sep. 24, 2020|United Kingdom|102 Min.|R
Genre: Comedy
Description: In the 1990s, Johanna Morrigan, a 16-year-old girl, lives in Wolverhampton on a council estate with her family. Her father, Pat, aspires to be a rock star, while her mother, Angie, is exhausted from managing their household. Johanna has two brothers, Krissi and Lupin, along with infant twins. Dreaming of becoming a writer, she finds solace in the portraits of her idols that adorn her bedroom walls. A poem she wrote earns her a spot in a televised competition, but her nerves get the better of her, leading to a humiliating experience on national TV.
When Johanna accidentally exposes her family’s illegal Border Collie breeding, her father loses his disability benefits. Determined to help, she decides to earn money for the family. Her brother Krissi suggests she apply to D&ME, a London-based music paper looking for a rock critic. Johanna submits a review of the Annie soundtrack and is invited for an interview. However, upon arrival, she discovers the staff thought her submission was a joke. Despite this, she persuades them to give her a chance and is assigned to cover the Manic Street Preachers in Birmingham.
Eager to reinvent herself, Johanna adopts a bold new style, dyes her hair bright red, and takes on the pen name “Dolly Wilde.” She attends her first rock concert and becomes captivated by the music, immersing herself in the scene. D&ME sends her to Dublin to interview musician John Kite, who is charmed by her vibrant personality. The two spend the day together, and Johanna even joins him on stage. They share personal stories, and Johanna becomes infatuated with him. Upon her return, she writes a glowing article about John, but her editor dismisses it as the musings of a lovestruck teenager and fires her.
Cast director: Coky Giedroyc
Cast actor: Beanie Feldstein, Paddy Considine, Sarah Solemani, Alfie Allen, Frank Dillane, Laurie Kynaston, Arinzé Kene, Tadhg Murphy, Ziggy Heath, Bobby Schofield
Original name: How to Build a Girl