Sunfish and Other Stories at Green Lake - 2025 Sundance Film Festival Evaluation

      **Sunfish and Other Stories on Green Lake, 2025.**

      **Written and Directed by Sierra Falconer.**

      **Featuring Jonathan Stoddard, Michela Luci, Wayne Duvall, Brooke Butler, Adam LeFevre, Dominic Bogart, Marceline Hugot, Bryant Carroll, Emily Hall, Karsen Liotta, Jim Kaplan, Lauren Sweetser, Marshall Dancing Elk Lucas, Luke Barnett, Craig Nigh, Jared Canfield, Giovanni Mazza, Tenley Kellogg, Maren Heary, Jaime Gallagher, Bella Shaw, Clayton Hoff, Mercedes Marcial, Ethan Stoddard, Hadley Durkee, Peter Knox, and Joe Anthony Gordon.**

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      This anthology explores the lives of residents in a small town and the lake that connects them.

      Set around Michigan’s Green Lake, Sierra Falconer’s anthology film, *Sunfish and Other Stories on Green Lake*, presents four narratives about characters of varying ages, complicated relationships with their parents, and adventurous exploits while searching for a large fish. The overarching theme reveals that the lake serves as a backdrop where these characters learn more about themselves, beautifully captured by cinematographer Marcus Patterson. Whether sailing or diving into the water, there is a magnetic allure to this serene location and its picturesque elements (the absence of modern technology suggests the film may take place in the 1990s). The activities across Green Lake are also complemented by an emotional score by Brian Steckler, enhancing the characters' journeys.

      *Sunfish and Other Stories on Green Lake* maintains a tighter focus on its themes and ideas than many anthology films. However, it still experiences some diminishing returns. One might wish the film had chosen one particular story to delve into more deeply, especially the first one featuring 14-year-old Lu (Maren Heary) as she spends her summer with her estranged grandparents and slowly begins to bond with them while developing a love for sailing. Initially, it’s somewhat frustrating to see a girl resist affection from her grandparents after being left there by her parents due to a sudden marriage, but the specificity of learning sailing from her grandfather (Adam LeFevre) makes it disappointing when the narrative shifts to another character just as Lu sets off to explore her surroundings.

      Following this, we meet a boy (Jim Kaplan) at a music summer camp who feels pressured by his mother to concentrate solely on music while the other children enjoy time at the lake. Another story features two unexpected allies (Karsen Liotta and Dominic Bogart) teaming up to catch the large fish, featuring an unforeseen twist. Lastly, we see two siblings (Emily Hall and Tenley Kellogg) who share everything, enjoy baking together, and are interested in boys—until an event threatens their close-knit bond.

      The stories are interconnected, with characters mentioning locations or events from the other narratives, enhancing the film's cohesiveness and giving the small town a sense of life and breadth through its various stories. Whether engaging in sailing, intensive music practice, or baking, there is a thorough attention to detail that animates a setting that becomes a character in its own right. The authenticity behind *Sunfish and Other Stories on Green Lake* keeps it engaging, but one cannot shake the feeling that a fully developed narrative focused on Lu would have left a lasting impression.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★**

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He is also the Reviews Editor for Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews and follow me on BlueSky or Letterboxd.