How to Build a Girl

The movie begins in Wolverhampton during the 1990s, where Johanna Morrigan feels trapped in her mundane life and dreams of a glamorous escape like the heroines in her favorite books. She lives with her family, including her aspiring rock star father Pat, and is surrounded by posters of iconic figures. Johanna aspires to be a writer and hopes for a better future beyond her current circumstances.

Johanna's excitement about her poem contest turns into embarrassment after she humiliates herself on stage, rambling and comparing the host to Scooby-Doo. This embarrassment reflects her struggles to gain confidence. Following this, her family faces financial difficulties, with their TV being repossessed due to her father's illegal activities, deepening her feelings of failure.

Johanna, feeling dejected, is recommended to write for a local music paper, D&ME, after reviewing a soundtrack. Despite initial dismissal, she insists on getting the job and is assigned to cover a Welsh band, marking her first step into the music critic scene. She adopts the alias Dolly Wilde and dyes her hair bright red for her new persona.

Johanna attends her first rock show, falling in love with the genre and gaining confidence as she immerses herself in music. She travels to Dublin for her first interview with musician John Kite, where they bond over personal stories and hopes, sparking romantic feelings. Her admiration for him motivates her to write an enthusiastic feature.

After her initial praise of John Kite is too girlish, Johanna promises to be more aggressive in her reviews. She is rehired and begins writing brutally honest, even cruel, critiques of bands and musicians, which earns her notoriety in the music scene. This new persona starts shaping her reputation as a tough critic.

Johanna openly discusses her sexual encounters, becoming more sexually active and confiding in her family. She attends a gathering where her father’s band Mayonnaise’s CD is discovered, and she is asked to shoot the album cover, feeling conflicted about betraying her family’s secret.

Johanna wins an award as 'Arsehole of the Year' for her fierce critique style. She confesses her feelings to John Kite, who rejects her advances, leading her to write a negative review of him. Her behavior worsens, and she adopts a more delinquent attitude to maintain her edgy persona.

Johanna’s rebellious streak causes concern among her family and friends. She argues that she’s supporting them financially and emotionally, but her reckless behavior worries everyone. She joins a party with colleagues, where she drunkenly criticizes her coworkers, leading her to quit her job.

Feeling overwhelmed and dejected, Johanna drinks heavily, cuts her wrist, and loses consciousness after an award statue falls on her head. She’s admitted to the hospital where she recovers, and her family forgives her for her self-destructive actions, marking a turning point in her journey.

Johanna begins to mend her relationships and makes amends by contacting musicians she insulted. She writes an article on self-harm, gaining recognition from another paper, which leads to a new job opportunity. Her renewed focus helps her rebuild her confidence and sense of identity.

Johanna seeks closure by apologizing to John in person, giving him her hair and a magazine as tokens of her apology. John forgives her, and they part on friendly terms. Johanna reflects on her experiences and concludes that doing something big for oneself is the best way forward.