Episode 538: In The Seats With....Eliza Scanlen and 'The Starling Girl'

It's hard enough being a teenage, but when the community that is supposed to be supporting you makes it worse....On this very special episode we're looking at a fascinating character drama that manages highlight the difficulties in structure when it comes to faith and particularly with young people trying to find themselves.  It's time for 'The Starling Girl'.Seventeen-year-old Jem Starling (Eliza Scanlen) struggles to define her place within her fundamentalist Christian community in rural Kentucky. Even her greatest joy of dancing with the church group is tempered by worry that her actions are sinful and she is caught between a burgeoning awareness of her own sexuality and her religious devotion. With the return of Owen, an enigmatic youth pastor, Jem soon finds herself attracted to his worldliness and charm. Slowly, he draws her into a dangerous relationship that could upend their entire community.Simply a stunning feature debut from writer/director Laurel Parmet, 'The Starling Girl' is the kind of movie that will have you talking long after the credits roll.  We had the unique pleasure of sitting down and talking with the star of the film, Eliza Scanlen.We talked about getting the job, the nature of the role, being respectful yet honest in a story like this and so very much more....