The Reel Review
A shy, bullied teenage girl in a conservative rural town in 1960 Oklahoma gains self-confidence and independence after she is befriended by a feisty, outspoken newcomer to town. Over time, Iris and Maggie help one another navigate their unique personal challenges, in this 2019 coming-of-age drama.
The two leads – Kara Hayward (Manchester by the Sea, Moonrise Kingdom) and Liana Liberato (Totally Killer, Scream VI) – do most of the heavy lifting in this subtle period drama, with solid supporting performances by Jordana Spiro (the Fear Street trilogy, Ozark) as Iris’ controlling mother, Tony Hale (Veep) as Maggie’s abusive father, and Michelle Williams lookalike Adelaide Clemens (Rectify) as the town’s hairstylist. Director Martha Stephens (Land Ho!) uses a muted color palette to symbolize the suffocating bleakness in this extremely conservative, small-minded town where late-night swims at a secluded pond are the only respite.
While the earnest story from writer Shannon Bradley-Colleary is at times clunky and fairly predictable, it does blow up any ideas of a romanticized good ole days vibe of the time period, with an LGBTQ+ component that is shocking and realistic in its brutality. She also allows her story to breathe, with the emotional evolution of her main characters occurring naturally. The film’s message, about the power of female friendship and empowerment, is a winner.
REEL FACTS
• To the Stars was set in Wakita, Oklahoma, which also was the setting for the 1996 tornado thriller Twister.
• Initially, To the Stars was released in black and white, giving the film a totally different vibe.
• To the Stars was a 2019 Grand Jury Prize nominee at the Sundance Film Festival.
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