The Starling (2021) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story primarily takes place in Lilly's suburban backyard, which features a tree where a starling nests. Additional key locations include a mental hospital where her husband Jack is being treated and a grocery store representing her attempt at daily normalcy.

• setting
• locations
• backyard
• hospital
• grocery store

The film is set in contemporary, present-day times. The narrative addresses modern mental health challenges and grief, reflecting current societal conversations about loss and recovery.

• time period
• contemporary
• modern setting

The starling serves as a symbolic representation of Lilly's own struggles with grief. Her fierce protection of the garden and battle against the bird mirrors her internal struggle to guard against pain while ultimately learning to accept and coexist with her loss.

• starling
• symbolism
• grief
• symbol
• metaphor

Lilly Maynard is a grieving mother portrayed by Melissa McCarthy who is struggling to cope with the death of her daughter. She is depicted as a determined woman fighting overwhelming grief while juggling responsibilities and maintaining her mental health. Her journey showcases resilience and her path toward healing.

• Lilly Maynard
• main character
• grieving mother

Jack Maynard is Lilly's husband, played by Chris O'Dowd, who is coping with his own profound sorrow at a mental hospital. His character represents the deep emotional struggle that follows losing a child. His relationship with Lilly is pivotal as they both confront their grief together.

• Jack Maynard
• husband
• mental hospital
• grief

Dr. Larry Fine, portrayed by Kevin Kline, is an unconventional psychiatrist who has become a veterinarian. He provides Lilly with unexpected emotional support and guidance. His quirky, empathetic personality creates a unique therapeutic connection that helps her confront her grief.

• Dr. Larry Fine
• veterinarian
• support
• therapist

The three central themes are healing, grief, and transformation. The film explores how Lilly and Jack process the death of their daughter, the importance of finding support in unlikely places, and the journey toward accepting loss while rebuilding relationships and discovering joy again.

• themes
• healing
• grief
• transformation
• meaning

The film portrays grief as a complex, personal experience that manifests differently for each character. It emphasizes that acknowledging pain is necessary for healing, showing both Lilly and Jack on separate but interconnected journeys through loss. The narrative highlights that grief cannot be avoided but must be faced to facilitate recovery.

• grief
• loss
• death
• healing
• emotional

The film has a primarily hopeful tone. While it addresses the devastating loss of a child, the story focuses on healing, reconciliation, and learning to coexist with pain. It balances the heaviness of grief with moments of lightness through the quirky veterinarian character and the symbolic starling, ultimately delivering an uplifting message.

• tone
• mood
• hopeful
• emotional weight
• feeling

Lilly's garden represents her attempt to maintain control and normalcy in her life after loss. The backyard, particularly the tree housing the starling, becomes the arena where she confronts her grief. Her determination to protect the garden mirrors her struggle to protect herself from emotional pain, eventually leading to transformation.

• garden
• backyard
• symbolism
• protection
• control

The film blends genres because it addresses serious themes of grief and loss through a dramatic narrative while incorporating comedic elements, particularly through Dr. Larry Fine's unconventional personality and humorous interactions. This balance allows the story to explore painful emotions while still providing moments of lightness and hope.

• genre
• comedy
• drama
• tonal balance
• blend

The movie's central message is that healing from profound loss is possible through acknowledging pain, seeking connection, and learning to accept grief rather than fighting it. It emphasizes that support can come from unexpected places and that rebuilding relationships and finding joy again are integral parts of the healing journey.

• message
• meaning
• lesson
• healing journey
• recovery