Joe Swanberg’s ‘The Sun Never Sets’: A Mature Romance at SXSW 2024

Austin, Texas – After a nearly decade-long hiatus from directing feature films, and a seven-year absence from the South by Southwest Film Festival, Joe Swanberg is back with “The Sun Never Sets.” The film, which premiered Friday night at the Zach Theater, marks Swanberg’s tenth project to debut at SXSW, signaling a return to form for the filmmaker known for pioneering the “mumblecore” movement of the 2000s. While the pace of his early, improvisational function has slowed, Swanberg’s latest offering demonstrates a newfound maturity, both in his filmmaking and personal life.

“The Sun Never Sets” centers on Wendy, played by Dakota Fanning, a woman navigating a complex romantic crossroads. Torn between a rekindled connection with a reckless former flame (Cory Michael Smith) and the stability of her current relationship with a divorced father of two (Jake Johnson), Wendy’s story unfolds against the backdrop of the Alaskan landscape. Swanberg chose to shoot on 35mm in Anchorage, a departure from the “couches, bars and apartments” that often defined the settings of his earlier films, as noted in the Los Angeles Times.

A Pause and a Re-Evaluation

Swanberg’s directorial pause began following the completion of “Easy,” a Netflix anthology series that he both wrote and directed. The show, which concluded in 2019, represented a creative peak for the filmmaker, offering him unprecedented budgetary freedom and a collaborative environment. However, a combination of personal circumstances – including a divorce – and the onset of the pandemic led to an extended period of reflection. During this time, Swanberg explored other avenues, including producing projects for fellow indie filmmakers, acting, and even opening a video store in Chicago.

This period of stepping back allowed Swanberg to re-evaluate his approach to filmmaking. He’s moved from the raw, sexually explicit films of his early career to exploring the nuances of relationships and the complexities of mid-life, as he described to the Los Angeles Times. “You acquire better at it and you sort of mature and all of this,” he said.

A Collaborative History with Jake Johnson

“The Sun Never Sets” isn’t the first time Swanberg has collaborated with Jake Johnson. The pair previously worked together on 2013’s “Drinking Buddies,” a film that helped solidify Swanberg’s reputation for naturalistic dialogue and relatable characters. Johnson’s involvement extends beyond acting; he also served as a producer on “The Sun Never Sets,” along with his brother, and partially financed the project. This long-standing creative partnership is evident in the film’s dynamic, as Johnson brings a grounded realism to his portrayal of the settled-in-his-ways father figure.

Navigating Past Controversies and Evolving Standards

Swanberg’s early work, while influential, wasn’t without its critics. He faced accusations of exploitation and manipulation of female performers, particularly regarding the inclusion of explicit sexual content. These criticisms resurfaced during the #MeToo movement, leading to a period of self-reflection and a shift in his creative focus. Swanberg doesn’t frame this as a cancellation, but rather a natural evolution, noting in the Los Angeles Times that he remains “unwelcome” in some places, but also that his work has “always attracted some amount of positive and negative attention.”

“The Sun Never Sets” reflects this shift, featuring kissing scenes but avoiding the more graphic content that characterized some of his earlier films. Johnson reportedly has a firm boundary regarding explicit scenes, stating he “wasn’t doing this” early in his collaboration with Swanberg. Dakota Fanning, for her part, felt comfortable and trusted Swanberg implicitly, even declining the offer of an intimacy coordinator, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. “There was no planet where you’d ever be asked to do anything you were uncomfortable with,” Fanning said.

The Improvised Process and a Personal Touch

Swanberg’s signature filmmaking style relies heavily on improvisation. While “The Sun Never Sets” features the most detailed outline he’s ever created, the actors were still given the freedom to develop their own dialogue during rehearsals. This collaborative approach, combined with the film’s Alaskan setting and the personal themes it explores, resulted in a project that Swanberg considers his “favorite film I’ve ever made.” The characters’ children are even named after Swanberg’s own, adding another layer of personal connection to the story.

As Swanberg told Deadline, he sees a future for himself making films about characters at different stages of life. “It’d be really cool in my 40s to make movies about characters in their 40s,” he said, “and in my 50s, 60s and 70s.”

Looking Ahead: Distribution and Festival Circuit

Following its premiere at SXSW, “The Sun Never Sets” is currently seeking distribution. The film’s positive reception at the festival suggests strong potential for a wider release. Swanberg’s previous work has found homes with platforms like Netflix and Magnolia Pictures, and it remains to be seen which distributor will ultimately acquire the rights to “The Sun Never Sets.” Swanberg’s return to directing, and his tenth film at SXSW, signals a continued evolution for a filmmaker who has consistently pushed boundaries and challenged conventions.