To the Stars (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place in a small, close-knit rural Oklahoma town in 1960. This era was defined by traditional gender roles and intense community scrutiny, where people's reputations were shaped by gossip and appearances. The local pond and other common spaces serve as gathering spots for teenagers and reflect the town's limited outlets for self-expression.

• rural oklahoma
• 1960
• small town setting
• setting

To the Stars is set in 1960, a specific moment in small-town America where traditional values dominated. This period saw strict adherence to social norms, particularly regarding gender roles and community behavior. The year grounds the story in a historical context where reputation mattered greatly and rumors spread quickly through close-knit neighborhoods.

• 1960
• time period
• 1960s
• historical setting

The film explores four major themes: Identity & Growth, as Iris transforms from a shy, bullied teen to someone who asserts her own feelings; Conformity & Judgment, showing how the town targets those who defy social norms; Friendship & Empowerment, depicting how female friendship catalyzes personal courage; and Escapism & Longing, symbolized by the pond as a refuge from judgment.

• themes
• identity
• growth
• coming-of-age
• friendship
• conformity
• judgment
• escapism

Iris Deerborne (played by Kara Hayward) is the film's shy, introverted protagonist who wears glasses and seeks belonging while facing emotional pressure at home and school. Her arc represents a journey from isolation to self-acceptance, driven by her evolving friendship with Maggie. Iris learns to assert her own feelings and resist others' attempts to control her life, becoming the emotional core of the narrative.

• Iris Deerborne
• protagonist
• main character
• Kara Hayward

Maggie Richmond (played by Liana Liberato) is a charismatic new girl who arrives in town and becomes Iris's closest friend. She uses glamour as a mask to hide a troubled home life, driving her desperate need for belonging and attention. Maggie's secrets and bold personality catalyze Iris's growth while simultaneously igniting town-wide tensions that expose the community's rigid moral standards.

• Maggie Richmond
• Liana Liberato
• character
• friendship

The rural Oklahoma setting creates a pressure cooker environment where gossip, appearances, and reputation govern daily life. Since everyone knows each other by name, rumors spread quickly and shape relationships. The community actively targets those who defy norms, leading to vandalism, fear, and drastic consequences. This social framework forces characters to choose between safety and authentic identity.

• small town
• gossip
• social pressure
• community judgment
• conformity

Iris and Maggie's friendship serves as the story's central catalyst, offering a space for honesty, risk-taking, and mutual support. Their bond challenges the town's existing hierarchies and demonstrates how female friendship can empower individuals to imagine different futures. However, their connection also reveals both resilience and danger in stepping outside societal expectations, leading to significant emotional consequences.

• female friendship
• empowerment
• Iris and Maggie
• relationship

Hazel Atkins (played by Adelaide Clemens) is a local hair stylist whose warmth masks deeper loneliness. Her bond with Maggie becomes a focal point of desire and taboo in the gossip-ridden town, drawing intense scrutiny from neighbors. Hazel represents the adult consequences of living outside the town's accepted norms and illustrates how judgment extends beyond the teenage characters.

• Hazel Atkins
• Adelaide Clemens
• supporting character
• town gossip

The 1960 setting imposes strict traditional gender roles on all characters, particularly the young women. Iris faces pressure to conform to expected behaviors while Maggie's defiance of these norms directly threatens the town's moral order. These constraints shape the coming-of-age narrative, forcing characters to navigate between societal expectations and their authentic desires, with serious consequences for those who refuse to comply.

• gender roles
• 1960s
• social norms
• women's roles
• expectations

The pond serves as a central symbol representing escape and the yearning to flee judgment. It functions as a meeting place where Iris and Maggie can be themselves away from the town's surveillance. Iris's desire to disappear captures the intense pressure of adolescence in a restrictive environment, symbolizing the universal longing for freedom and authentic self-expression.

• pond
• symbolism
• escape
• freedom
• meeting place

Gerald Richmond (played by Tony Hale) is Maggie's protective father who struggles with pride, fear, and disappointment in his daughter. After the town's accusations escalate, he attempts to restore order, blending genuine care for Maggie with controlling tendencies. His character illustrates the complex dynamics between parental protection and the enforcement of societal expectations.

• Gerald Richmond
• Tony Hale
• father
• Maggie's dad

Clarissa Dell (played by Madisen Beaty) is the popular girl who embodies the school's social pecking order. She represents the rigid teenage hierarchy where appearance and dating status determine one's place. Clarissa's emphasis on surface-level social standards makes her a primary driver of Iris's social challenges, illustrating how peer pressure perpetuates the town's conforming culture.

• Clarissa Dell
• popular girl
• social hierarchy
• peer pressure
• Madisen Beaty