Sundance review: 'Sunfish' is an engaging quartet of stories, all set on a lake in an idyllic summer

It’s a cliche to say that the location in a movie is like another character — but in the case of writer-director Sierra Falconer’s observant anthology “Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake),” the lake mentioned in the title isn’t just a character, but the only character who appears from start to finish.

Falconer tells four engaging stories, all set in the summer around a lake in Michigan. If there’s a common thread besides that, it’s that each focuses on a relationship at a critical point.

• First, there’s Lu (Maren Heary), a 14-year-old girl left with her grandparents (Marceline Hugot and Adam LaFevre) when her mom (Lauren Sweetser) impulsively gets married and abandons her daughter for an impromptu honeymoon. While exploring by the lake, she finds Grandpa’s single-person sailboat, a Sunfish, and Grandpa shows her how to sail. (Grandpa’s best line: “When you capsize, and you will capsize, …”) 

• At a summer music camp, Interlochen, Jun (Jim Kaplan) is a 12-year-old violin prodigy who’s driven — or, rather, pushed by his mom — to make first chair in the camp’s orchestra.

• Annie (Karsen Liotta, Ray’s daughter), a bartender pulling a double shift, offers to give a ride to Finn (Dominic Bogart), who’s sure he can find a monster fish at the bottom of the lake. Misadventures happen on the way to the lake.

• Sisters Robin (Emily Hall) and Blue Jay (Tenley Kellogg) run their family’s B&B, cooking and cleaning for the rich family who vacations there. It’s the last time they’ll do this together, as Robin is preparing to leave for culinary school.

Falconer gives the right weight to each of the four stories, so none of them feel truncated or like they’ve overstayed their welcome. She has gathered a solid ensemble cast, with a mix of fresh faces and veteran character actors (like LeFevre, or Wayne Duvall as one of Annie’s more obnoxious customers). 

The vibe of “Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)” is an adventure-filled summer at the lake — one you’ll remember for many summers to come.

——

‘Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)’

★★★1/2

Screening in the U.S. Dramatic competition of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Screens again: Monday, January 27, 2:30 p.m., Redstone 4, Park City; Thursday, January 30, noon, Egyptian, Park City; Friday, January 31, 12;30 p.m., Broadway 6, Salt Lake City. Online screenings Thursday, January 30, 8 a.m. to Sunday, February 2, 11:55 p.m. (All times Mountain time zone.) Not rated, but probably R for language. Running time: 87 minutes.