Eliza Scanlen

Lewis Pullman

Wrenn Schmidt

Jimmi Simpson

Claire Elizabeth Green

Austin Abrams

Chris Dinner

Paige Leigh Landers

Kieran Sitawi

Jessamine Burgum

Kyle Secor

Andrew Riley Stephens

K.J. Baker

Ellie May

Brianna Bronger

Abby Hobek

Laurel Parmet

Kara Durrett

Charlie Phoenix

Cha'Ree Brown

Kevin Rowe

Brian Lannin

Taylor Morgan

Rebecca Dealy

Tracie A. Harper

Sean Ramey

Sam Levy

Meghan Glasper

Emily Reedy

Will Greenfield

Bill Reedy

Ben Shafer

Heidi Stolte

Chris Stolte

Douglas Choi

Martina Bassenger

Ben Schneider

David Hinojosa

Sydney Marquez

Tora Eff

Mollie Wartelle

Charlotte Arnoux

Dayna Schutz

Matt Rigby

Laura Heinzinger

Edward Taylor

Rebecca Balough

Drama

The Starling Girl

Pinky Promise

Sons of Rigor

United Kingdom

United States of America

English

dance

christianity

coming of age

religion

love affair

alcoholic father

woman director

shame

father daughter relationship

mother daughter relationship

expression

youth pastor

Manuel São Bento

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://thatshelf.com/the-starling-girl-review/

"The Starling Girl addresses the impact of religion on young women's lives, particularly tackling how sexuality, love, freedom, and personal identity relate to fundamentalist pedagogy. A solid directorial debut by Laurel Parmet, deeply exploring a self-discovery arc by a compelling protagonist who represents countless women taught and forced to hide and fear much of what defines them as human beings with feelings, desires, and dreams. An empowering, insightful story elevated by an underappreciated cast, including a career-best performance from Eliza Scanlen."

Rating: B

Brent Marchant

What’s required to attain acceptance from others? That’s a tricky question, especially for those who are going through the coming of age process. It can be even more confounding for those who are part of a community that demands rigid conformity on an array of fronts. So it is for 17-year-old Jem Starling (Eliza Scanlen), a questioning young woman from a small Kentucky fundamentalist community. She wants to fit in, but she also endeavors to know herself, a quest that carries with it some puzzling yet innate contradictions, many of which are brought front and center when she begins to develop feelings for her married youth pastor (Lewis Pullman), a connection based on emotions that turn out to be mutual. But what is Jem to do – follow her heart or squelch the burgeoning passions surfacing within her, both romantically and in her other secular interests? That’s the story that plays out as she attempts to get in touch with her inner being. However, is she seeking to let her true self emerge, or is she succumbing to the wicked manipulations of Satan, as her family and fellow parishioners try to convince her? Independent Spirit Award-nominated writer-director Laurel Parmet’s debut feature deftly handles these themes, even if they seem a little predictable, familiar and stretched out at times. The picture’s surprisingly inconsistent cinematography sometimes hampers the flow of the narrative, too, with some scenes that are beautifully shot and others that are needlessly and almost indecipherably dark (atmosphere is one thing, but the patent mishandling of this element is something else entirely). Nevertheless, these shortcomings are aptly covered by the fine performances of the film’s stellar cast, especially Scanlan, Pullman, and Jimmi Simpson and Wrenn Schmidt as Jem’s dysfunctional parents. “The Starling Girl” may not be groundbreakingly original, but it reminds us of the importance of being ourselves, no matter what that might entail – and the cost that can come from failing to follow our hearts.

Wonderful. Almost perfect. A gripping and moving story, small and intimate in style, but colossal in impact. Great performances all round, particularly the searing one by Eliza Scanlen, whom I hadn't heard of before, but I'll be looking forward to seeing her in something else. Strange how it's often the movies I keep postponing for later because I think they'll be boring that end up being the most enthralling and entertaining.

The Starling Girl( 2023)

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A review by Manuel São Bento

Written by Manuel São Bento on Sat May 13 2023

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