'The Starling Girl' Exclusive Clip: Eliza Scanlen & Lewis Pullman Star In Laurel Parmet's Coming-Of-Age Drama

Despite everyone’s differences in upbringing, growing up is a difficult experience that is universal and nondenominational. While we all know this and have seen countless coming-of-age films that tackle the difficulty of discovering yourself, your wants, and your dreams, Laurel Parmet’s “The Starling Girl” puts a twist on the genre that explores Christianity, crushes, and power dynamics. 

From the trailer, you can tell that this is going to be an emotional story following seventeen-year-old Jem Starling as she struggles to define her place within her fundamentalist community in Kentucky. She loves to dance and is at the age to start thinking about her future, but dancing is considered sinful and when we say it’s time to start to think about the future, we mean finding a husband. 

READ MORE: ‘The Starling Girl’ Review: Eliza Scanlen Shines in This Deeply Felt Coming-Of-Age Drama [Sundance]

During this confusing time, she finds a sense of calm with her youth pastor Owen, who allows her to dream and be unapologetically herself. That connection, however, causes a complex and sensitive moral conflict. As Owen draws her into this dangerous relationship with his worldliness and charm, Jem finds herself more confused as she tries to understand her perception of herself, her family, and the faith she’s always held so dear. 

Jem is played by the amazing Eliza Scanlen with Lewis Pullman as Owen Taylor. The film also stars Jimmi Simpson, Wrenn Schmidt, Claire Elizabeth Green, Austin Abrams, and Kyle Secor.

“The Starling Girl” opens in theatres in New York and Los Angeles on May 12 and expands to additional cities on May 19. Ahead of the film’s release, watch the trailer and an exclusive clip below.