In her office at home, where cats Bobik and Carla sprawl on the desks and shelves, playwright Annie Baker speaks about her craft. A master of the unse
In her office at home, where cats Bobik and Carla sprawl on the desks and shelves, playwright Annie Baker speaks about her craft. A master of the unseen, Baker’s works often explore quiet moments and conversations that reveal deep emotional truths. Her latest achievement is a film, Janet Planet, an eerily intimate portrayal of mother-daughter relationships in the 90s. “What’s a cult?” a curious Lacy asks as her mother combs for lice in the opening scene.
Baker won the Pulitzer Prize for her play, The Flick, set in a cinema during the 2013 cleanup, and later adapted Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya for the stage. She is known for her natural and precise dialogue, which bleeds into the audience’s visceral experience of time and space.
Baker made her film debut with Janet Planet, a story about an ambivalent marriage between a mother, Janet, and her 11-year-old daughter, Lacy. The film is an homage to the 90s with its folk-theatre settings and a summer of discovery for both characters.
The mother, Janet, has retrained as an acupuncturist after a rupture, and their relationships become increasingly complicated as they navigate cult-like influences and alternative ways of dealing with pain. Baker writes about this marriage as if it’s a particular kind, not just a mother-daughter tale. The director is known for leaving distance in her characters, making them more private and open to interpretation.
Baker grew up surrounded by bohemian adults in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she remembers her community talking about a somatic way of thinking and paying attention to the body. Though she once found this approach repellent, she now finds it a pivotal aspect of her work.
In her first film experience, Baker took a hands-off approach to directing, leaving her 11-year-old lead, Zoe Ziegler, to discover her character, Lacy, through her own process.
Baker doesn’t talk about her projects extensively with her family, including her brother-in-law, Noah Baumbach, a director, and her partner, Nico Baumbach, an academic. Her work remains personal and private, something she doesn’t dwell on, even with close loved ones.
Janet Planet has garnered a lot of attention with its subtle storytelling and evocative atmospheres, drawing parallels to Baker’s unique voice on the stage. The film represents her willingness to explore the complexities and grey areas in relationships, making even the smallest moments feel colossal and unforgettable.
As Baker continues working on new projects, including a sequel shot on 35mm in Queens, New York, she remains committed to uncovering the mysterious and private aspects within her art.
FAQs:
Q: Is it possible to interview Annie Baker about Janet Planet? A: Yes, however, Baker is known for maintaining her distance and preferring not to discuss the finer points of her work.
Q: Are there any upcoming projects on the horizon? A: Yes, Baker will begin filming her next project soon, using 35mm to create an atmospheric and intimate setting for the characters.
Conclusions:
Janet Planet represents a new chapter for playwright-turned-filmmaker Annie Baker, showcasing her unique take on quiet, intimate moments and the nuances of mother-daughter relationships.
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