Movie Review: The Starling Girl

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

A beautifully moving and thought provoking coming of age story. 

At a couple points in this film, our main character quotes the Bible about how even if we do the most righteous things without love, they are pointless. This may be what she has been taught but it is not how the world around her acts. There might be love deep down with some of the people in her life, but it is love that they often keep well hidden. She lives in one of those societies where, like the pharisees that Jesus rebuked, people have turned faith and religion into little more than a set of impossible to follow rules. If you cannot follow these rules then you are rebuked and treated harshly instead of being shown the love you need and crave. This film lets us see just what such a society can do to a person, especially a young person. It is hard not to sympathize with Jem in this movie, even if you have never had this kind of upbringing. That is because writer/director Laurel Parmet (in what is amazingly her first feature film), does such a wonderful job of making us experience every moment with her. There is not a false moment in this film nor a moment when we do not feel like we are experiencing just what this young woman is. This is also helped by a truly incredible performance by Eliza Scanlen. This actress may be young, but she plays this role like a seasoned pro and even if you are familiar with the actress, you will find yourself forgetting you are watching an actress and only see the character. This is also a movie that is not afraid to move into darker territory and there are scenes that are downright disturbing and painful to watch. Yet these scenes always feel completely earned and never forced. This movie also never comes off as too meanspirited or paints any of its characters as simple stereotypes. Instead even the characters who would be just unlikable villain types in lesser films, have a little more depth and nuance to them here. Considering the road that so many similar movies have taken this feels honestly quite refreshing.

Also as someone who loves country music hearing Emmylou Harris and the Chuck Wagon Gang on the soundtrack certainly helped me love this movie. 

This is a must see movie.