Scheme Birds (2020): Ratings
Scheme Birds is a 2020 documentary directed by Ellen Fiske and Ellinor Hallin. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes. Critics gave it 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 89 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Directors
- Ellen Fiske and Ellinor Hallin
- Genre
- Documentary
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Sisyfos Film Production
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Scheme Birds About?
The premise of Scheme Birds without spoilers.
Set in a struggling steel town in Scotland, the film follows Gemma, a 17-year-old girl facing the challenges of adolescence. Surrounded by a community where teenage pregnancy and incarceration are common, she struggles to differentiate between youthful antics and a descent into criminal behavior. Gemma’s journey explores the difficult realities of her environment and the choices she must make to navigate them.
Scheme Birds Themes & Keywords
· 1 tag- childhood
The Director of Scheme Birds
Directed by Ellen Fiske and Ellinor Hallin.
- Co-director Ellen Fiske
- Co-director Ellinor Hallin
Scheme Birds Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Scheme Birds 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 89 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in sensory experience (92) and weakest in character & emotion (63).
Scheme Birds Echo Score Breakdown
Scheme Birds achieves a compelling balance between lyrical visual storytelling and grounded social observation. Critics emphasize its disciplined direction and evocative cinematography, noting moments of poetic beauty set against the stark realities faced by its subjects. Reviewers also highlight strong emotional passages in Gemma’s journey, though some audience members find the narrative familiarity and character likability uneven. While its restrained tone and visual craftsmanship create a lasting impact, individual engagement and replay value may vary.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 88
In terms of direction and cinematography, Scheme Birds demonstrates artful craftsmanship through precise framing and careful editing. Critics highlight its measured pacing and restrained approach, which carve clarity into a complex social landscape. In terms of production design, the understated color palette and thoughtful set compositions create moments of both stark realism and lyrical beauty. Overall, the art and craft display deliberate restraint and visual cohesion.
- Character & Emotion 63
When it comes to character depth, the documentary offers moments of genuine emotional resonance but varies in consistency. Reviewers commend the sensitive portrayal of Gemma’s relationships and her grandfather’s influence, noting authentic personal interactions. However, some viewers found the main figures less compelling or familiar in their struggles, limiting deeper empathy. Ultimately, character development is present yet uneven in sustaining consistent emotional investment.
- Story & Flow 70
When it comes to plot coherence and pacing, the film blends poetic vignettes with a straightforward coming-of-age narrative. Reviewers praise its engaging portrayal of young lives navigating difficult choices and the consistent flow between intense and reflective moments. At the same time, some critique the familiarity of its trajectory and the absence of a clear thematic resolution. Overall, the story delivers focused engagement but feels narratively cautious in its originality.
- Sensory Experience 92
When it comes to score and sound design, the documentary offers a highly immersive sensory experience. Critics highlight the poignant soundtrack and clear audio cues that punctuate scenes of both struggle and joy. In terms of visual style, the raw yet cohesive imagery underscores the environment’s grit without tipping into sentimentality. Overall, the sensory presentation is evocative and cohesive.
- Rewatch Factor 66
When it comes to replay value, the film’s emotionally intense subject matter tempers the desire for repeated viewings. Some appreciate its layered craftsmanship and return to dissect visual metaphors and nuanced framing. Others find that the raw realism and narrative weight make subsequent viewings challenging. Overall, the documentary offers limited but meaningful rewatch appeal for those drawn to its stylistic depth.
-
IMDb 7.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 90% Tomatometer
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 89 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 66% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.6 /5
3 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.7 /5
See on Movie Insider
Scheme Birds Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Scheme Birds.
Scheme Birds Also Known As
5 alternative titles, including “À se brûler les ailes” and “Птички Предместья”.
- Also known as
-
- À se brûler les ailes
- Птички Предместья
- 하늘을 나는 자유로운 새처럼
- Pájaros sin alas
- Ptáčata
Seen Scheme Birds?
Movies Like Scheme Birds
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Bird, These Birds Walk and Where Birds Dream.
Scheme Birds FAQ: Runtime, Release Date & Director
Runtime, release date, director, ratings and post-credit scenes of Scheme Birds, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Scheme Birds?
Scheme Birds runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was Scheme Birds released?
Scheme Birds was released on June 30, 2020.
Who directed Scheme Birds?
Scheme Birds was directed by Ellen Fiske and Ellinor Hallin.
How is Scheme Birds rated?
Scheme Birds has 7.2/10 on IMDb, 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 89 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.
Does Scheme Birds have a post-credit scene?
No. Scheme Birds has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
