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Janet Planet is a 2023 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Annie Baker in her directorial debut. It stars Julianne Nicholson, Zoe Ziegler, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, and Sophie Okonedo. It follows a single mother and her young daughter who navigate their complex relationship in 1990s rural Massachusetts.
The film had its world premiere at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on September 1, 2023, and was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on June 21, 2024, by A24. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised Baker's direction and screenplay, as well as Ziegler's performance. At the 40th Independent Spirit Awards, it earned three nominations: Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.
Janet is first shown dating Wayne, a taciturn middle-aged man prone to odd behavior and Migraine. Although Lacy befriends Wayne's daughter, Sequoia, after a trip to the mall, she dislikes Wayne himself. During one of his migraines, Lacy pesters Wayne until he charges at her; later, Janet asks her what to do, and Lacy suggests that she break up with Wayne.
After breaking up with Wayne, Janet and Lacy attend a performance by a troupe of actors led by Avi, a charismatic Clergy who lives with his troupe in a commune. Janet recognizes one of the actors as an old friend of hers named Regina, who leaves the commune for unknown reasons and moves in with Janet. Lacy is friendlier with the free-spirited Regina than she was with Wayne, but tensions begin to rise between Janet and Regina over matters such as rent money and unspecified mistakes Janet made in her past. Eventually, Avi visits and takes Regina back to the commune, soon striking up his own relationship with Janet.
On the first day of sixth grade, Lacy is stricken with headaches; despite her mistrust of Antibiotic, Janet acquires them from a pharmacy for Lacy's sake before going on a date with Avi. They hike and have a picnic, and he reads her poetry. However, mid-sentence, he disappears, and Janet drives back home alone.
Lacy recovers from her illness and begins attending middle school. In the fall, Janet takes Lacy to a contra dance, where she freely moves between partners. Lacy is asked by a woman if she wants to dance to which she shakes her head no. She watches her mother from a distance. Her mother then disappears and Lacy smiles.
The film was released in the United States on June 21, 2024.
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