Rev. Kelly Barber facilitated this month’s movie discussion.
The Starling is a 2021 American comedy-drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Matt Harris. A married couple, the Maynards, suffer after the death of their baby daughter from SIDS. The husband, Jack (Chris O’Dowd), is in a residential mental hospital while his wife Lilly (Melissa McCarthy) remains at home, dealing with her own feelings alone.
This is an emotional drama, with spots of beautiful humor, around a story of loss. It demonstrates how when we are faced with a “universal sucker punch”, we are given a profound opportunity to heal a host of long-standing beliefs and assumptions, and lay aside some of the false identities we cling to. It also demonstrates how we use self-will for protection and how surrender leads to healing.
This movie has some spiritual themes that include interdependence, compassion, self-honesty, and humility.
The movie is available on Netflix.
