Review of Janet Planet: Mother-Daughter Bond Unfolds in Dreamy Summer

The Pulitzer-winning dramatist Annie Baker, known for her stage play “The Flick,” makes her feature debut with a very personal film set in rural Massachusetts during the summer of 1991. This new film, while well-received, elicits mixed feelings about its overall impact. The narrative, centered around an 11-year-old girl and her mother, unfolds in a dreamy, languid manner that evokes both enchantment and lethargy.

Julianne Nicholson shines as Janet, a newly-trained acupuncturist who runs a practice whimsically named “Janet Planet.” Meanwhile, Zoe Ziegler delivers a commendable performance as Lacy, Janet’s daughter, who returns home after disliking summer camp. Lacy spends her summer vacillating between watching her mother’s turbulent relationships and entertaining herself around the house.

Lacy encounters several of Janet’s acquaintances throughout the film, each bringing different dynamics and complications. Wayne, portrayed by Will Patton, frequently suffers from dramatic migraines. Sophie Okonedo plays Regina, an actor whose support for Janet appears ambiguous. Then there’s Avi, played by Elias Koteas, a theatre troupe leader with a boisterous personality who attempts to court Janet.

One notable scene features Janet confessing to a disinterested Lacy her belief that she could make any man fall in love with her if she really wanted to. Lacy’s reaction to this revelation mirrors the audience’s skepticism, exposing it as a self-justifying illusion.

The film also delves into Lacy’s own strained relationship with her mother. Lacy misses spending time with Sequoia, the child of Wayne from a previous relationship, a bond disrupted by Janet’s poor romantic choices. The film flows gently towards its conclusion, leaving many emotional threads subtly unaddressed, yet it remains visually captivating throughout.

Janet Planet will be available in UK and Irish cinemas starting 19 July and will also be featured at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August.

Source: The Guardian