'Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)’ Review: Sincere Anthology Flick Hoists a Strong Debut For Sierra Falconer | Sundance 2025
There are only two ways anthology movies exist today: if they’re from a horror series like VHS, or if they’re from a filmmaker who has hit auteur immunity, such as Wes Anderson or Yorgos Lanthimos. So, I find it bold for a filmmaker to debut with an anthology movie as their first feature. That's what Michigan-based writer/director Sierra Falconer did with Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake), a fantastical slice-of-life tale about everyday people within Green Lake, Michigan. Despite being a city boy who isn’t fond of anthology flicks, this one warmed my heart with all its midwestern charm.
Image copyright (©) Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival
MPA Rating: Not Yet Rated
Runtime: 1 Hour and 27 Minutes
Production Companies: JWH Films
Distributor: N/A
Director: Sierra Falconer
Writer: Sierra Falconer
Cast: Maren Heary, Jim Kaplan, Karsen Liotta, Dominic Bogart, Tenley Kellogg, Emily Hall
Release Date: N/A
During the summer in Green Lake, Michigan, a series of characters encounter significant turning points in their lives. The stories involve:
A 14-year-old girl, Lu (Maren Heary), was dropped off at her grandparents' lakeside home by her newlywed mother on her honeymoon. Feeling lonely and exhibiting prime teen angst, she takes an interest in sailing her granddad's boat, the Sunfish.
Jun, a lonely teenager (Jim Kaplan) works his ass off to get “First Chair” at a summer music camp for gifted students.
Finn (Dominic Bogart), a fisherman, tries to catch a fish to procure his legacy. Though nobody believes him, a bartender (Karsen Liotta) who wants more out of life decides to assist him.
Lastly, two close sisters, Robin (Emily Hall) and Blue Jay (Tenley Kellogg), operate a bed-and-breakfast business while their dad works. They try to make their last days of summer worth it before Robin leaves for college.
A Sweet and Enduring Love Letter to Green Lake, Michigan
Throughout Sunfish – inspired by Falconer's upbringing on the titular peninsula during various summers – Falconer wears her love for the location on her sleeve. The film bears a welcoming midwestern ambiance that feels straight out of an ‘80s coming-of-age drama. Each sequence is a chance for her to show you around her hometown like a tourist, pointing out the significance of each location. Falconer's characters sometimes present a geographical map, highlighting Green Lake and its neighboring counties. Marcus Patterson's natural and intimate cinematography makes each stop on the anthology tour bus feel like a warm summer day. It makes me long for the simplistic activities depicted, like sailing, jumping on a trampoline, or watching birds. It does great justice for the lakeside community, making me want to book a trip there during the summer to live out my own midwestern fantasies.
Each Sunfish Vignette Feels Inspired by a YA Novel
Although Sunfish is Sierra Falconer's unique way of reflecting on her childhood through various tales, each story evokes the flair of several young adult novels of different genres mixed with its cozy midwestern flair. One of the tales named “Two Hearted” is very reminiscent of Moby Dick. My favorite was “Resident Bird,” where two sisters run a bed-and-breakfast, primarily because their character writing and rapport reminded me of Beverly Cleary's Ramona and Beezus. I can't tell you which books the first two stories reminded me of. Heck, I'd say the second tale about the passionate kid trying to get First Chair reminded me of Whiplash (without Fletcher). They all capture the grand nature of those young adult novels due to their grounded, consistent, lighthearted, warm tone and relationship-driven dialogue.
All the characters possess a familiar personality with a similar “golly-gee” persona. Yet, each one is endearing in an honest, authentic sense, even those framed as antagonistic. We have a few recognizable character actors here, like Wayne Duvall, Marceline Hugot, and Adam LeFevre, all embodying these personalities, acting as if they were residents from the real location. For a moment, I thought Falconer got Michigan residents to make her cast, considering that each performer in the ensemble captured the grounded nature of the setting. That’s a testament to the strength of Falconer a first-time filmmaker.
Sunfish Is An Impressive Debut for Writer/Director Sierra Falconer
Falconer achieves a consistent tone control between whimsy and genuine charm throughout, which never reaches Lifetime or Hallmark territory. Although some of the emotional beats in several of its stories may be corny, and some tales may conclude abruptly, its precision is executed with such sincerity that one can’t help but forgive some of its shortcomings. I was greatly impressed by her ability to seamlessly blend into surrealism and other distinct styles (fantasy, thriller, comedy) in each story while also accomplishing remarkable feats behind the lens. One of the tales involves a boat chase action sequence, and it's genuinely well-crafted and wonderfully shot. It's the last thing I'd expect from a super indie movie about Green Lake, Michigan.
Final Thoughts
Sunfish is a rich, endearing love letter to the titular Michigan peninsula wrapped up in an entertaining anthology movie, bearing a strong calling card for filmmaker Sierra Falconer.
