In The Caged Bird, writer-director Shawn Woodard dares to take the faith-based genre into unflinching territory, tackling issues that most Christian films wouldn’t touch with a thirty-foot cross.
Maya is a teenage girl trying to survive in Detroit while living with her drug-addicted mother and her mother’s abusive boyfriend, Nico. She’s disconnected and uninterested at school, more focused on her artwork than her studies. Though her teacher notices something is wrong, Maya is too ashamed to discuss it.
At home, Maya is forced to endure constant verbal abuse from Nico. Her only source of comfort is her best friend Mia, who loves Maya’s singing and encourages her to attend a Black Girl symposium hosted by Pastor Jasmine. Feeling trapped and hopeless, Maya attempts to overdose but survives.
The next day is when Maya’s life starts to fall apart. Best friend Mia tells her that she’s moving to Toledo. Later, Nico tries to assault Maya, and when her mother finds them, she blames Maya and throws her out of the house. Now homeless, Maya runs into street pimp Deacon, who offers her food, shelter, and protection for…well, you know. One of the ladies takes Maya literally, begins showing her the ropes, and is assaulted in the process. Meanwhile, Mia returns to Detroit and desperately tries to find Maya to tell her about a divine opportunity.
“Maya is a teenage girl trying to survive in Detroit…”
The Caged Bird has to be one of the grittiest faith films I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them. Maya goes through experiences most faith films wouldn’t dare explore—sexual assault, prostitution, and drug use. Most of the time, it’s all implied, but here it’s right in front of your face. In other words, not for children, but I do admire that The Caged Bird is willing to cross a line or two for the sake of authenticity.
I’m also pretty sure The Caged Bird is a labor of love for filmmaker Shawn Woodard. It’s a micro-budget film, and you’ll see it in all the production aspects, from the quality of the camera, lighting, and sets to the sound, which is not the greatest. The technical flaws are noticeable, particularly in the sound. Woodard has quite an impressive list of films, and it might be time to invest in better equipment, starting with sound.
The Caged Bird is decidedly a faith film. Ultimately, it has a good message about how God can lift anyone out of the deepest holes we dig ourselves or fall into by accident. In a world that celebrates darkness, Woodard and crew uplift instead.
The Caged Bird may not soar on a technical level, but it sings with a message of hope that rises from rock bottom. For viewers who can stomach the grit, there’s grace waiting on the other side of the storm—proof that faith-based storytelling doesn’t always need to play it safe to make an impact.
For more information, visit The Caged Bird Facebook page.
"…tackling issues that most Christian films wouldn’t touch with a thirty-foot cross."
