Janet Planet Depicts an Emotional Mother and Daughter Story

In Janet Planet, as eleven-year-old Lacy takes a walk down a trail with her mother Janet, the matriarch turns to her daughter and asks, “So what do I do?” Lacy sounds confused and says, “You want me to tell you what to do?” Janet responds, “Yes.”

It is a hard pill to swallow the day you realize that your parents are real people. When that image is finally shattered, you don’t see the world through the rose-tinted glasses anymore. When it happens at a young age, it is a confusing feeling to navigate. The one person who is supposed to guide you is also lost. It is that moment of realization that forces a child to grow up quickly. They end up parenting themselves because they can’t trust the guidance of an uncertain navigator. When that child is the only constant in their parent’s life, they also might feel responsible for parenting their parent. They have a seat at the adult table. They are told adult problems. Seeds of resentment are planted.

In the A24’s latest coming-of-age drama, Janet Planet, Lacy finds herself realizing her mother is flawed. In Western Massachusetts, Lacy (played by newcomer Zoe Ziegler) spends a summer with her mother, Janet (played by Julianne Nicholson of Dream Scenario). As the summer months pass, three people come into Janet’s life, all captivated by Janet. When Lacy is alone, she becomes enthralled by her imagination and the attention of her mother. 

Janet Planet is directed by Annie Baker in her feature directorial debut. She is a highly acclaimed American playwright who won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play, The Flick. Both Ziegler and Nicholson who play the mother and daughter duo are already blowing critics away with their performance. The film recently did the festival circuit and sits at a solid 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Janet Planet is another coming-of-age film that takes place in the early 90s. The most recent coming-of-age films set in the 90s are films like Aftersun, Mid90s, and Snack Shack. Janet Planet may not lean into the comedic fun time that Snack Shack is, but the parent/child relationship dynamic reminds me of Aftersun. Fans of the 2022 Charlotte Wells film might be able to appreciate Janet Planet. 

What is so attractive about the story of Janet Planet is that you get a glimpse of what could be a codependent relationship between the two. They are portrayed as these idealistic bonds you want to have with your parents. However, it is never explored how the codependency of mother and daughter could be toxic to both people. There are questionable conversations in the Janet Planet trailer that Lacy sits in on. Janet overshares about her failed relationships while Lacy looks for the words to aid her mother. Janet and Lacy have these very adult conversations in the trailer, burdening Lacy with having to parent her mother. 

Janet Planet will have a limited release starting Jun 21, 2024. Directed by Annie Baker, starring Julianne Nicholson and Zoe Ziegler, Elias Koteas, Will Patton and Sophie Okonedo.