Dakota Fanning Has Never Been Better Than She Is in The Sun Never Sets

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Joe Swanberg is well-known among fans of independent comedies. He’s considered a leader of the ‘mumblecore’ film movement from the early 2000s – a style also created by filmmakers like the Duplass brothers and Lynn Shelton. These films were known for realistic, often unscripted conversations, awkward but funny situations, and a grainy, low-budget look, frequently shot in people’s homes. In fact, many of them actually were filmed in basements, and often looked quite rough around the edges.

I’ve been trying to put my finger on this trend for years, and I think I finally have it. It’s a very specific kind of movie – one that really blossomed with filmmakers like Greta Gerwig in films like Frances Ha and Hannah Takes the Stairs. It heavily influenced a younger generation, like Lena Dunham and the awkward, cringe-worthy humor of Girls. These films usually center around young women, often incredibly charming, stumbling through their twenties, figuring things out with a lot of messy relationships and a casual attitude. But it’s not just women – you also get these stories about men, often drifting and a little lost, too old to be living with their parents but not quite knowing what to do with their lives. Think of a movie like the Duplass brothers’ Jeff, Who Lives at Home – Jason Segel plays this wonderfully aimless guy, a kind of stoner-philosopher, who goes on this bizarre quest to Home Depot, seemingly searching for meaning in the most unexpected places. It’s a genre built on a certain kind of vulnerability and, honestly, a lot of relatable messiness.

Everyone involved has since moved on to other projects. The Duplasses are now recognized more for their work as actors, Gerwig is directing major films, and Swanberg created the Netflix series Easy, though he hasn’t directed a feature-length movie since 2017.

There was a lot of buzz at SXSW surrounding The Sun Never Sets, Joe Swanberg’s first film in nearly ten years. This charming indie romance, set in Alaska and starring Dakota Fanning in what many are calling her best role yet, was a standout for me at the festival. It makes you wonder if we’re on the verge of a new wave of realistic, character-driven films—movies that honestly depict the messy love lives of people in their 30s and 40s.

Compared to her previous films, this movie is visually stunning, thanks to the beautiful Alaskan landscapes and the use of 35-mm film. The cast and crew clearly enjoyed their time filming in the constant daylight and learning to fly planes—which everyone, including Dakota Fanning, did themselves, and with some risk. As Jake Johnson explained to Screen Rant, Alaska has very few rules about flying. “It’s like they say, ‘Want to fly a plane?’ and you just can! They treat it like driving a boat,'” he said, “but it’s a plane in the air!”

In the film, actress Fanning plays Wendy, a 31-year-old construction worker in Anchorage. She’s a down-to-earth woman who operates a bulldozer and is happily dating Jack, a divorced father of two and a hedge-fund manager in his 40s. Their relationship hits a snag when Jack suggests they take a break so Wendy can decide if she truly wants to be with him. He doesn’t realize this will lead to her reconnecting with her incredibly attractive ex, Chuck – a pilot who’s magnetic but also tends to vanish without explanation – and spark his jealousy.

The film draws from director Joe Swanberg’s personal experiences. He divorced his wife of twenty years, actress Kris Williams, in 2019, and was also going through breakups with other partners around that time. As Swanberg explained to Deadline at SXSW, the movie’s central relationship is a combination of several post-divorce experiences, and actress Dakota Johnson significantly shaped the character.

The director told IndieWire that in one of his relationships, he feared his younger partner would eventually be unhappy with his reluctance to remarry or have children. Because of this, he admitted to acting in ways that would ruin the relationship himself.

Director Swanberg intentionally kept actors Johnson and Smith unaware of the nature of their characters’ connections with Wendy, filming each romance on its own. This proved beneficial, as Johnson admitted to genuinely feeling jealous when he unexpectedly witnessed the strong chemistry between Fanning and Smith on set. He even jokingly suggested to Deadline that they alter his character, Cory, to be less attractive and shorter, believing it would better serve the story.

The movie wouldn’t work without Dakota Fanning’s incredible performance; she makes you truly believe these men would tolerate Wendy’s wavering between them while thinking she loves them both. This is arguably her best work yet. It feels like seeing Dakota Fanning as an adult for the first time – she’s incredibly relaxed, funny, and portrays a character full of both heartbreak and depth. While her sister, Elle Fanning, has had a successful career with acclaimed films and TV shows, Dakota brings a newfound maturity to this role. She conveys a sense of having overcome difficult experiences and emerged stronger, not hardened, but with a genuine understanding of flawed people. It’s clear she just needed the right director to unlock her full potential.

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2026-03-20 22:54