The need for freedom and escape from reality strains at the edges of director Martha Stephens’ films (Land Ho!, Passenger Pigeons, Pilgrim Song), and that continues with her latest, To the Stars. Premiering at Sundance 2019, the film stars Liana Liberato, currently earning raves for her performance in comedy Banana Split (our review of that here), and Moonrise Kingdom breakout Kara Hayward, as two girls in 1960s Oklahoma trying to make themselves heard in a place where women tend to keep silent.
I remember hearing the strong buzz for this while in Park City, but didn’t end up seeing it because of there were just so many coming-of-age films. One thing in its favor at the time was the black-and-white photography which, sadly, Stephens appears to have ditched. Curious about the reason and if there will be a chance to see it as originally intended.
To the Stars hits VOD on April 24th and co-stars Shea Whigham, Tony Hale, Malin Akerman, Madisen Beaty, Adelaide Clemens, and Jordana Spiro.
