17-year-old Jem Starling struggles with her place within her Christian fundamentalist community. But everything changes when her magnetic youth pastor Owen returns to their church.
Jem Starling (Eliza Scanlen) is the eldest daughter of her family. They live in Kentucky, in a secluded evangelical community. However, she cannot quell her attraction to her more senior youth pastor, Owen Taylor (Lewis Pullman).
Eliza Scanlen is one of my favorite young actresses working today. She starred in HBO’s “Sharp Objects,” which director Laurel Parmet cited as why she wanted Scanlen in the role in a Q&A after the film.
While this religious community may not be as extreme as others depicted on film and TV, their faith is at the core of all their actions. I can see how this can feel stifling to a girl like Jem, who is expected to uphold her responsibilities, become an adult, and act like a good Christian girl. She is expected to marry soon a boy in her community that she does not know well, help with the household chores, and act as basically a second mother to her many siblings. She shares a room with at least two of her sisters, so the poor girl never gets much alone time or attention.
Jem grows a crush on the community’s youth pastor, Owen, who has recently returned from Puerto Rico. And she’s delighted when he showers his attention on her. They soon develop a romance. And while Jem does feel guilty about it due to her upbringing, she does not want to stop it.
You can tell why Jem would be drawn to Owen, portrayed by Lewis Pullman, who may be best known as the pilot, Bob, in “Top Gun: Maverick.” He does not have a polished look; he has seen more of the world and is not as uptight in his views as the rest of the community. You may even start to like him, but the red flags are revealed. First, he is already married. Second, he uses the excuse, “but God wants us to be together,” to justify their relationship. Third, he is having an affair with the same 17-year-old girl his younger brother is “courting.”
Jem is also dealing with her alcoholic father, who also feels stifled by their community. He returns to drinking after learning a bandmate of his died. He repeatedly goes on benders, and his wife can’t seem to help him. However, he and Jem seem to have a connection that the others don’t, as they both love music. Jem is in their community’s dance troupe and is frustrated by the criticism she gets from the other girls.
“The Starling Girl” is a quiet, nuanced, and realistic coming-of-age drama with a talented cast behind it. The film does not judge Jem for her choices or actions. And Scanlen, once again, gives a captivating performance.
“The Starling Girl” recently had its Texas Premiere at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival
