Stargazer

Stargazer, under the direction of Alan McIntyre Smith, weaves a complex narrative. Screenwriters Kate Ginna and Rob Ackerman skillfully use a university student’s fascination with a forgotten yet significant figure in history to paint a vivid portrait of that person’s life. The inclusion of an ancient Greek parable, which serves as a metaphor for the struggles and triumphs of the characters, and modern dance, which symbolizes the fluidity and unpredictability of life, adds thematic layers. Is this a case of too many elements, or do they all harmoniously contribute to the core themes?

“…found that stars were made up of hydrogen and helium, challenging the prevailing theory of the time…”

In 1925, astronomer/astrophysicist Cecilia Payne (Kate Ginna) made a groundbreaking discovery. She found that stars were made up of hydrogen and helium, challenging the prevailing theory of the time that all celestial bodies were essentially made up of the same elements. Her discovery was dismissed as factually incorrect, only for Harlow Shapley (Matt Bogart), the Director of the Harvard College Observatory Cecilia was attending, to steal her work and claim it as his own. College student Grace (Ginna) is obsessed with Cecilia Payne and is trying her best to get her story out there. Unfortunately, the numerous publishers and book agents she’s talked to either aren’t interested or want it to be altered to be sexier and more salacious.

However, after reaching out to Peabody Award-winning journalist Spike Randall (Bogart), Grace gets a big break. A popular talk show will have her and him on to discuss Cecilia’s rightful place in history. Now, the two have holed up in the library to massage out the best way to get across to a nationwide audience. But dance major Diana (Lei Nico), who has overheard their various pitches, has an odd feeling about Spike. So Diana inserts herself into this scenario, which she hopes will save Grace from heartbreak and inspire her thesis in return.