BIRD IN HAND
Melody C. Roscher’s incredible feature debut comes to Tribeca 2025 audiences. BIRD IN HAND follows a newly engaged young woman returning to her Mom’s house to view a local wedding venue. But, it quickly becomes apparent that Bird has ulterior motives.
Carlotta treats her as an inconvenience, constantly criticizing Bird and being openly hostile if things do not go her way. She controls the narrative. Bird tries her best to connect and longs for an ounce of compassion. But the truth is more complicated than fiction.
An accidental meeting with her mother’s new neighbors sparks a unique relationship and a quest to confront the past. Will hiring a wedding band be the answer to all her childhood hurt?
James Le Gros nails Dennis’ wildly erratic arc. Jeffrey Nordling is entirely charming as Carlotta’s longtime boyfriend, Dale.
Christine Lahti plays Bird’s mother. Self-described as “woo woo,” pretty much covers her untraditional take on life. It’s sort of a miracle Bird survived emotionally with such a kooky narcissist at the helm. Lahti is a force of nature. You have to love/hate her. Alisha Wainwright is spectacular in the titular role. Her vulnerability and ability to slide from wounded creature to absolute badass are impeccable.
Roscher dives headlong into racism, beginning with small-town microaggressions, then boldfaced offensive moments surrounding plantation history, all barreling towards her mother’s heart-shattering feelings. But, deep momma bear instincts and Bird’s unwieldy plan flip the script.
BIRD IN HAND is about healing, identity, and the messy path there and back. Tribeca 2025 audiences are lucky to see it first.
Directed by: Melody C. Roscher
Starring: Alisha Wainwright, Christine Lahti, James Le Gros, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Jeffrey Nordling, K. Todd Freeman
Written by: Melody C. Roscher
Produced by: Craig Shilowich, Alex Schepsman, Danielle Massie, Cody Ryder, Sam Bisbee, Saba Zerehi
Executive Produced by: Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Lance Acord, John Craighead, Muwaffaq Salti
Bird in Hand follows Bird Rowe, a biracial bride-to-be who arrives unannounced at her charismatic hippie mother Carlotta’s rural home, to plan her wedding. As the two scout wedding venues, their attempts at bonding quickly unravel as buried truths surface, revealing an emotionally complex and fraught relationship. Bird enlists the help of the new neighbors who have recently bought a nearby plantation, sparking an unlikely connection. A darkly comedic and emotionally raw exploration of race, family, and identity, Bird in Hand is a sharp portrait of a young woman’s desperate search for connection—no matter how messy it gets.
RT: 87 Minutes
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