Saoirse Ronan channels Greta Gerwig in stunning Lady Bird trailer

What was Greta Gerwig’s life like before she broke out on the indie movie scene? Her latest film, Lady Bird, might not be a fact-based biopic adapted play-by-play from its director’s life, but the new trailer for the upcoming dramedy sees Saoirse Ronan channeling the same maverick spirit that made Gerwig a star in the first place.

The preview begins as Ronan and her character’s mother (Laurie Metcalf) argue over the titular character’s future while inside a moving car.

“I hate California. I want to go to the East Coast. I want to go where culture is, like New York, or at least Connecticut or New Hampshire, where writers live in the woods,” Ronan says.

“You won’t get into those schools anyway. You should just go to City College, you know, with your work ethic, just go to City College and then to jail and then back to City College, and then maybe you’d learn to pull yourself up,” Metcalf responds, though her rant is cut short when Ronan, without warning, opens the car door and tumbles out of the vehicle.

Thus the comically offbeat tone is set, as what follows is an exploration of a young woman at odds with her lofty ambitions and the realities of her talents, with people around her trying to tell her how to manage expectations for her life, while she carves out a unique lane — coupled with equally unique fashion choices — for herself.

Lady Bird‘s ensemble cast also includes Timotheé Chalamet, Tracy Letts, Oscar-nominated Manchester by the Sea star Lucas Hedges, and acting legend Lois Smith, who appears as a nun toward the end of the new trailer.

The film had its world premiere screening at the Telluride Film Festival over Labor Day weekend, drawing enthusiastic praise from movie critics, who’ve singled out Gerwig as finally finding her voice as a filmmaker after years spent writing and acting in various films from the mumblecore movement.

The film has been pegged an early contender for Academy Awards, including for Gerwig’s writing and the performances from Ronan, a two-time nominee, and Metcalf.

Lady Bird hits theaters Nov. 10 via A24. Watch the film’s new trailer above.