Impressive And Realistic! —Review Of The Starling Girl (2023)

Ben Taylor is a quiet and shy teenage boy but Jem has no interest in him. Then his older brother, Owen Taylor (played by Lewis Pullman), a pastor and married, who recently returned from missionary work gets her attention.

Under the guise of asking for permission to lead the church's dance troupe, Jem begins to spend more time with Owen. They become attracted to each other and things go downhill from there. Can Jem handle her awakening sexuality and emotions while facing her conservative society? Will she get the freedom she deeply craves?

Review

This is one of the most realistic films I've seen this year. The plot is brilliant. Though subtle, viewers do not immediately understand where the film is heading to. We think it's about a teenager's crush on a young, married pastor but as the film plays on, we realise it's much more. This almost two-hour film is slow-paced, allowing for firm character development and good resolution of the subplots. It addresses themes of freedom of thought and action, and the grip of societal and religious rules on people.

There are also the struggles that teenagers face as they prepare for adulthood. This is a subject that society doesn't often discuss. This film captures the struggle of Jem Starling caught in the web of organised religion that offers some sort of disciplined lifestyle for the members but it felt like a prison to her.

In the final scene, we see this teenager enter a bar and begin to dance to country music, her arms spread out and eyes closed as she twirls, smiling at her newfound freedom. In hindsight, I think she doesn't want to end up like her father who fell apart because he wanted more out of life but their religious environment prevented this.

The cast's performance is simply outstanding. I had eyes for Eliza Scanlen alone because of her impressive acting. She beautifully embodies the teenage frustration over the restrictions from her church and family while crushing on her youth pastor. The displays of innocence, curiosity, immaturity and naivety of sleeping with her pastor, believing it's God's will for them to be together are excellently portrayed with a delicate yet riveting realism.

Director Laurel Parmet did great with this character. Viewers are put right in Jem Starling's world and it's easy to relate to her emotions and struggles since almost every adult passed through the tumultuous teenage phase. I think Eliza Scanlen should be given an award for this role.

The cinematography is impressive as well as it captures the rural setting of a small Kentucky town both at day and night. The only question I would ask is: do any of these characters work at all? I see people go to church, meet up for lunch and have fun programs but no scenes of the children attending school or the adults working.

Overall, this film is gripping, rich in details and worth watching especially for teenagers. Adults can see it too and learn a thing or two about being true to themselves. Like I said earlier, it's a very realistic film and most people will see a part of themselves in it. I'll give it 4 stars out of 5.

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^{Other images are screenshots from the movie}