On the heels of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month, Catherine Called Birdy is currently playing in select theaters before becoming available on Prime Video on October 7. The frolicking feminist tale takes place in the 13th century, at a time when young girls were viewed as little more than bargaining chips in marriage arrangements. One such girl, Lady Catherine (played with gumption by The Last of Us' Bella Ramsey), does not wish to play by the rules that have been set out for her.

Catherine Called Birdy follows the young heroine, who naturally goes by "Birdy" among those that know her, as she tries to free herself from the gilded cage that marriage entails. Her father Rollo (Andrew Scott, Sherlock) needs the money a good marriage will bring, but his love for his daughter packs a pretty good punch. The sweet comedy was directed by Lena Dunham, who based the screenplay on Karen Cushman's beloved children's book of the same name.

Related: Catherine Called Birdy Review: Dunham's Medieval Comedy Is Lighthearted Fun

Screen Rant spoke to Dunham and Ramsey about how they adapted Catherine Called Birdy's themes from page to screen, and what reflections have stayed with them longest after filming.

Bella Ramsey & Lena Dunham Discuss Catherine Called Birdy

Birdy smiling and holding a bird

Screen Rant: Bella, you kicked ass, took names, and were tiny and adorable.

Lena Dunham: I would second that. I'm so glad it felt that way to you, because I feel strongly that's the case.

You have a lot of experience with historical dramas or would-be medieval pieces. But Birdy has a very modern mentality in this, so what is it like to merge these two things together?

Bella Ramsey: That's an interesting question, actually. She doesn't mean to be modern. I feel like it's very organic and natural that she just has these feminist, 21st-century views on things. She doesn't like animals to be kept in captivity; she doesn't like that she is kept in a certain sort of captivity. And bodily autonomy is a massive thing that she's fighting for, without realizing that that's what it is.

She just has this instinct that she has to have some control and power over herself, her life, and her future.

Lena, I know you said this was a passion project for you. What spoke to you when you were reading the book, and what made you say, "This must be a movie, and I must make it?"

Lena Dunham: When I first read the book, I was 10 years old. I barely knew what a movie was, much less that there were people who made them. I knew I loved to watch movies, and I knew I loved the book. But I think, ultimately, what I came to was just that I wanted to make things that I felt deeply connected to—and this book was one of the things I felt most deeply connected to.

I still feel now that going back in history is such a valid way to explore the present. That's what's exciting to me about a period piece, that you can reflect on the moment we live in by reflecting on a moment that we've left. And then, of course, to get to work in England with this unbelievable cast and to get to do it with such talented craftspeople in every stage of production just turned it into an actual dream come true.

Speaking of reflecting on the present through the past, there are a lot of interesting thoughts on marriage and what it means for women that still are relevant today. Bella, did you feel like you took anything away from the film that you can reflect on in the present?

Bella Ramsey: In terms of marriage, we were talking a lot with Andrew yesterday about how for so long it was a business arrangement. It's only recently become a romantic thing, really. Not to say that there wasn't romance, but that wasn't the main reason for it. The idea that two people will get married and stay together forever, just because they love each other, is quite a new phenomenon. I think it's interesting, and that's something that I'm still thinking about.

And then in terms of relationships, I think we see so much in the film of Birdy trying to relate to the people around her—but she's also sort of fighting relating to them. Because to her, if she relates to these people, it means that she's like them. And she doesn't want to be like them. Also, how she relates to herself and all the different aspects of herself; the parts she can't look at, and the parts that she expresses maybe too externally at times. But I love how unapologetic and expressive she is.

Lena Dunham: And I love the fact that she just knows deeply who she is, even though there are certain aspects of her life that are unclear to her. She knows who she is, and she reacts accordingly. And in that way, she's a total heroine to me.

About Catherine Called Birdy

catherine called birdy bella ramsey
Andrew Scott and Bella Ramsey in Catherine Called Birdy

A teenage girl in Medieval England navigates life and tries to avoid the arranged marriages her father maps out for her.

Check out our interview with Andrew Scott and Joe Alwyn as well.

Catherine Called Birdy is currently playing in select theaters, and will be streaming on Prime Video beginning October 7.