JANET PLANET (2023)

 

Written & Directed By: Annie Baker 

Cinematography: Maria Von Hauswolff

Editor: Lucian Johnston 

Cast: Julianne Nicholson, Zoe Ziegler, Will Patton, Elias Koates, Sophie Okonedo, Mary Shultz, Edie Moon Kearns 

In rural Western Massachusetts, 11-year-old Lacy spends the summer of 1991 at home, enthralled by her own imagination and the attention of her mother, Janet. As the months pass, three visitors enter their orbit, all captivated by Janet.

This film is a character study between a mother and her 12-year-old daughter. A coming of age story for both of them. 

One truly wants to enjoy the film as it takes objectivity to a certain level. Where we watch and wait. Yet little actually happens. 

The film seems to take place with the status and longevity of the mother's relationships with different partners. These are usually romantic, though, never quite shown to be that way, nor do we see the more physical sides of these relationships, though they seem not to take their toll, but have some kind of meaning. 

Her mother comes across as not needing anyone but desperate for any outside relationship due to them, living in a more rural community and also seeking to have the company of another adult rather than just her young daughter. She seems to have an attachment to her mother and doesn’t truly desire too many relationships, friendships, or connections with too many others, which is already rare for her.

This film won’t be for everyone as it takes its time and is very detail-oriented. As bass and day-to-day life. Not necessarily its trivialities, but its blandness. As it also seems to find beauty in every day.

This seems to be the writer and director, Annie Baker’s interest and expertise as her plays are constructed in the same way. So that some will get into and admire it while finding meaning and others might find it a bit, dull and drowsy

However, in the end, it shows more of a daughter's love for her mother than the other way around what we usually see in films like these.

It feels like a down-home, laid-back movie, that more exists on vibes and as a character study rather than plot. In the '90s and 2000s would probably have won the Sundance Film Festival. 

It never feels like it quite gets started and by the end though you have traveled with these characters. You might still be wondering what happened exactly.

Grade: B-