Joe Swanberg's 'The Sun Never Sets' Review: A Philosophical Romance
Joe Swanberg's new film, 'The Sun Never Sets,' marks his first feature in six years and stars Jake Johnson and Dakota Fanning. The movie, set in Anchorage, Alaska, follows Wendy (Fanning), a 31-year-old bulldozer operator, and Jack (Johnson), a divorced father of two from New York, who insists on a six-month break so Wendy can date other men and confirm her choice. The film also features Cory Michael Smith as Chuck, an ex-boyfriend and pilot, and Brandon Daley as a doting friend. Swanberg, known for his improvisational style and low-budget beginnings, has shifted to a more conceptual approach, stripping characters to their actions and foregrounding his philosophical view of love. The cinematography by Eon Mora is deliberately plain, reflecting the film's abstract objectivity. The movie is an experimental work disguised as a conventional romance, exploring whether surface traits matter in love. Swanberg's career spans from DIY films like 'Hannah Takes the Stairs' (2007) to star-driven projects like 'Drinking Buddies' (2013) and the Netflix series 'Easy' (2016-2019). The film premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and is currently in theaters.
Key facts
- Joe Swanberg's new film 'The Sun Never Sets' is his first feature in six years.
- The film stars Jake Johnson and Dakota Fanning, with Johnson in his fourth collaboration with Swanberg.
- Set in Anchorage, Alaska, the story follows Wendy (Fanning), a 31-year-old bulldozer operator, and Jack (Johnson), a divorced father of two.
- Jack insists on a six-month break so Wendy can date other men, leading to complications when she reconnects with ex-boyfriend Chuck (Cory Michael Smith).
- Swanberg's career began with DIY films in 2005, and he gained recognition with 'Hannah Takes the Stairs' (2007), which launched Greta Gerwig's career.
- He later directed 'Drinking Buddies' (2013) and the Netflix series 'Easy' (2016-2019).
- The film is noted for its plain cinematography by Eon Mora, a collaborator since 2015.
- Swanberg's approach in this film is more conceptual, focusing on the structure of drama rather than character interiority.
- The film is described as an experimental work that masquerades as a conventional romance.
- Swanberg is a divorced father of two children named Jude and Abby, which are also the names of Jack's children in the film.
Entities
Artists
- Joe Swanberg
- Jake Johnson
- Dakota Fanning
- Cory Michael Smith
- Brandon Daley
- Greta Gerwig
- Anna Kendrick
- Olivia Wilde
- Ron Livingston
- Eon Mora
- Debby Ryan
- Charlie Golike
- Kincaid Zatalokin
Institutions
- Netflix
- The New Yorker
Locations
- Anchorage
- Alaska
- New York