The film "Janet Planet", directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker, delves into the complex dynamic between Janet (Julianne Nicholson) and her young and melancholic daughter, Lacy, beautifully played by Zoe Ziegler. Set in rural Massachusetts in 1991, the relationship between obedient daughter and single mother is vividly portrayed, with Lacy continually clinging to her mother as she grapples with growing up.
Lacy's world is defined by her mother, who works as a home-based acupuncturist. Janet juggles her role as Lacy's single parent and as girlfriend to Wayne (Will Patton), a troubled older man, which instigates a rivalry between Lacy and Wayne over Janet's attention.
Throughout the movie, Lacy doesn't make friends easily due to her over-dependence on her mother and is seen occupying herself with piano lessons and playing with figurines. The film poignantly shows Lacy's struggle to understand her mother's romantic relationships. Despite moments when Lacy experiences early friendships with kids her age, including with Sequoia, Wayne's daughter, Lacy's preference is always for her mother's company or that of other adults who indulge her maturity beyond her years.
There's a poignant scene where Janet, now single again after breaking up with Wayne, and Lacy attend a performance in the wilderness where they escape their quiet life into a whirlwind of fantasy, momentarily distracted from their regular, frustrating existence. This moment underlines recurring aspects of their lives-Janet's continuous change of relationships and Lacy's steadfast observation, interspersed with fleeting periods of solitude where they soothe their wounds together.
"Janet Planet" successfully depicts the experience of a young girl, Lacy, observing her single mother's life with deep curiosity and understanding. One impactful scene showing this is when Janet, stoned with her friend Regina (Sophie Okonedo), explores their pasts while Lacy silently listens, gaining indirect insight into her own existence. She embodies Janet's decisions, knowing very well that she is her mother's legacy despite her tender age.
Nicholson and Ziegler's performances are delightfully complementary, eliciting a sense of genuine pleasure, sorrow, thoughtfulness, and compassion. Spending time observing their bond establishes a realistic proximity between mother and daughter typically glossed over by TV shows.
Baker's mastery in creating enriched, charming, and gorgeous world for her characters shines throughout "Janet Planet", and when Elias Koteas as Avi (yet another potential lover for Janet) appears, the film begins to drift towards its poetic finale. Our journey with Janet and Lacy concludes, leaving us longing for more. But thanks to the beauty of cinema, we can always escape to "Janet Planet" again and relive the captivating mother-daughter dynamics.
