Stella (2022) Movie Review
Stella is a vivid, historical retelling of the Cinderella folktale about a young German Jewish woman who finds work as a German tutor on a Scottish estate in 1937 only to discover the head of the household, the Earl of Rig, is a fascist sympathizing with Hitler.
As she attempts to hide her identity to stay safe (while also trying to find her missing parents) – she soon falls in love with Will, a young poet living like Thoreau in a small cabin in the woods nearby.
The lesser-known romantic period drama won awards at film festivals (winning Best Drama at the Melech Tel-Aviv International Film Festival) and is the feature film debut of Jessica Fox, a talented filmmaker with an artist’s eye and an understanding of folklore and Romanticism.
Intriguingly, Stella is a female-led production filmed on location at Galloway House and Wigtown in Scotland, and it is striking to see these locations onscreen. Fox also used a mix of new and seasoned actors while utilizing locals to fill out the rest of the roles – to impressive results.
All in all, I found Stella quite splendid as an indie period drama. It has a feel akin to Old Hollywood films, relying on a strong script, characterization, gorgeous costumes, and a beautiful setting.
THE CAST OF STELLA (2022)
The movie is also perfectly cast. The always impressive Gary Lewis (Outlander, Billy Elliot) and Susan Vidler (Trainspotting, The Woman in White) play Lord and Lady Rig, bringing their skill and experience to the roles. Lewis is particularly memorable as the creepy, stalker-like Lord Rig, who’s always watching Stella with a lustful gaze. One moment in particular gave me the chills!
Other key cast members include Richard Hansell (The Secret Garden) as Hugh S. Roberton (the Scottish composer) and Rufus Wright (Rogue One) as the controversial historical figure Oswald Mosley.
In the lead roles are relative newcomers Oli Fyne as Stella Deutch and Louis Hall as Will. Fyne is stunning, vulnerable, and haunting in the role. No doubt, she has a brilliant future ahead as an actress. It’s hard to take your eyes away from her on screen. She captures the pain of Stella’s circumstances while giving her a hopeful outlook.
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Hall is also magnetic onscreen. He’s befitting the part of a wannabe Romantic poet – full of earnestness and sweetness.
THE ROMANCE
Together, the pair have a natural chemistry, and it’s easy to believe the love story between Stella and Will. They’re pretty easy to root for.
Like Stella, it’s hard not to fall for Will – but then I have a soft spot for any mentions of Emerson, Thoreau, and the American Transcendentalism movement in Concord, Massachusetts, in the 19th century. A movement Will happens to be passionate about!
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Overall, I rather enjoyed Stella’s atmospheric look and feel and its slow but purposeful pace. It’s hard not to appreciate the cinematography with gorgeous shots of the Scottish countryside or the beautiful authentic costumes, the compelling love story, natural, artistic lighting, and memorable performances. Plus, while it’s set in the past, the themes about identity and refugees are relevant today.
All in all, Stella is a movie I’ll remember for a while and can’t recommend enough—especially to fans of 1930s or WWII period dramas and fairy tale and folktale retellings steeped in a mix of Realism and Romanticism.
Content Note: It’s not rated, but it feels like a mild PG-13 for intense scenes, closed-door sensuality, and adult themes. It’s 13+ on Amazon Video.
Where to Watch: You can rent/buy on Amazon in the US and UK. It’s also coming soon to Japan and Germany. If you’re in the UK, you can also stream it on STV/ITVX in the UK.
(Photos Courtesy of Innerwell Media and Jessica Fox)
Disclosure: I received a screener of the movie Stella for review purposes. I was not paid for this review, and all opinions are my own.
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