Movie with a girl who turns into a star on a staircase?

June 4, 2013 10:32 PM

I'm looking for one of those near-forgotten movies from childhood. I don't have a ton of info here. For some reason, I thought for a long time it might be a Sesame Street movie (or episode, or something), but it might just as well have been totally unrelated. The movie/episode climaxes on the top of a huge set of stairs (I recall it as stylistically over the top - sky at the top of the stairs, the stairs themselves were lit up, etc.), and a girl is turned into a star (a literal star, not a celebrity). It was a really sad scene. There were others there to say goodbye to her. It felt like a death, and I definitely cried. It's the only scene I remember, unfortunately. Anyone else remember something like this?
posted by SpiralT to Media & Arts (14 answers total)

Oh man. I think I remember this, but I have no idea what it's called. If it's the same movie I'm thinking of, the little girl is either autistic or is otherwise unable (unwilling?) to speak for some reason. She has a hobby of using playing cards to build card pyramids/houses, and I believe the stairs are somehow related to a pyramid design that she creates. I seem to recall it being a very tragic movie; I'm not sure if she dies in the end, or maybe she climbs the stairs to join a parent? who has passed away?

OMG NOW I MUST KNOW.
posted by samthemander at 10:44 PM on June 4, 2013

I think that either her dad or her therapist or her special ed teacher (not sure if it was a man or woman) watches her climb the stairs.

Gosh, I don't know if we're thinking of the same movie, but now I must know what mine was.
posted by samthemander at 10:46 PM on June 4, 2013

Yay Google! House of Cards
posted by samthemander at 10:48 PM on June 4, 2013 [2 favorites]

Huh. Ok, I guess she doesn't turn into a star in House of Cards. But she does build a stairway to the moon. Carry on then. And good luck!
posted by samthemander at 10:56 PM on June 4, 2013 [2 favorites]

Big Bird in Japan?
posted by Snarl Furillo at 11:01 PM on June 4, 2013 [2 favorites]

Sounds like "Stardust" (2007), but it's a fairly recent movie.
posted by apip at 11:07 PM on June 4, 2013

Best answer: Pretty sure that's Don't Eat the Pictures, although Sahu is a boy.
posted by fermion at 11:12 PM on June 4, 2013 [6 favorites]

Best answer: Here's the scene in question; star-ification occurs around 5:25 in this clip.
posted by fermion at 11:27 PM on June 4, 2013 [6 favorites]

Best answer: I came in to suggest Don't Eat the Pictures as well.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 4:08 AM on June 5, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Yeah, it's probably Don't Eat the Pictures.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:47 AM on June 5, 2013

Best answer: As goofy as it looks to my adult eyes, I also remember being really sad and emotionally affected by the turning-into-a-star scene in Don't Eat the Pictures.
posted by mskyle at 6:32 AM on June 5, 2013

I just watched that clip having had no knowledge of anything about this, and I find that extremely scary (and sad) for a children's movie. I'm really curious now, though.
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 12:30 PM on June 5, 2013

Best answer: I came to suggest Sesame Street's Don't Eat the Pictures as well. Good times.
posted by guster4lovers at 2:10 PM on June 5, 2013

Response by poster: Yep, that's got to be it. Not quite how I remembered it, at a glance. Can't wait to rewatch. Thanks, everyone!
posted by SpiralT at 4:58 PM on June 5, 2013