Maturing but still messy, a mumblecore kid returns to South by Southwest a veteran

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Filmmaker Joe Swanberg returned to the SXSW festival with his tenth independent film, “The Sun Never Sets,” after a six-year absence. While he used to create films very quickly – quirky, low-budget stories that helped define the ‘mumblecore’ style – he’s now working at a more deliberate pace. This has allowed him to grow, both personally and as an artist.

Joe Swanberg presented his new film, “The Sun Never Sets,” to a packed audience at the Zach Theater on Friday night, calling it his personal best. Filmed on 35mm in Anchorage, Alaska, the movie centers on Wendy (Dakota Fanning), a woman in her thirties, who is deciding between a new, exciting relationship with an unpredictable ex-boyfriend (Cory Michael Smith) and a more stable connection with the divorced father of two (Jake Johnson) she’s been dating.

Shortly before the festival, Swanberg reflected in a video interview from his Chicago home, saying, ‘It seems like with age and experience in this job, you naturally improve and gain a deeper understanding of things.’

This film is the fourth time director Joe Swanberg has worked with actor Jake Johnson, a relationship that began with the 2013 film “Drinking Buddies.” Johnson also helped fund the new project with his brother. Swanberg had intended to take a break after finishing the third season of his Netflix series “Easy” in 2019 – a season he both wrote and directed. However, a divorce and then the pandemic extended that break significantly.

Movies

This year’s SXSW Film & TV Festival will feature new movies and shows with Keke Palmer, Elle Fanning, Nick Offerman, Hannah Einbinder, Lola Tung, and other talented actors.

Over the years, Swanberg worked on projects for other filmmakers, acted in a few roles, and even ran a small video store in Chicago. He’d known Alaskan producer Ashleigh Snead, who suggested he film a project in Anchorage. The beautiful scenery offered a chance to move beyond the familiar settings – couches, bars, and apartments – that often featured in his films. (Though you’ll still find a good amount of scenes filmed on couches and in bars!)

Johnson describes Joe as a true filmmaker, noting he’s often overlooked for his ability to create movies even with limited resources. He calls the film a mature and realistic portrayal of difficult breakups and their emotional fallout, set against the stunning backdrop of Alaska.

Director Joe Swanberg has evolved from making dialogue-driven, thought-provoking, and sometimes challenging films about life after college to now focusing on the complexities of being a 44-year-old divorced dad navigating his place in the world. He came up alongside filmmakers like Greta Gerwig, Lena Dunham, Barry Jenkins, and Ti West, a group often labeled “mumblecore” (a nickname none of them loved, but it became well-known). Many of these filmmakers have since achieved broader, more mainstream success.

But Swanberg doesn’t seem to feel left behind. Rather, he only sees doors opening.

He admits things have gone surprisingly well. He explains that while making his short, explicit films, he was just happy to have a platform. He’s amazed that film festivals are showcasing his work and appreciates finding a place for himself in the film community.

It’s inspiring to see my friends succeed in big films, like Greta with ‘Barbie’. It makes me realize there are more opportunities for everyone. Whenever a friend achieves something new, I feel like it paves the way for all of us.

Movies

I was really fascinated by what Steven Spielberg shared at South by Southwest. He talked about his new project, which he’s calling “Disclosure Day,” and it led him to open up about his personal beliefs regarding the possibility of life beyond Earth. It was a surprisingly candid moment, and it got me thinking about how often filmmakers explore that very theme in their work!

Swanberg’s earlier films often included explicit sexual content, and he sometimes appeared in those scenes himself. Even before the #MeToo movement gained prominence in 2017, he faced criticism that he took advantage of and controlled the women he worked with. His reduced output happened as interest in his films exploring sexual relationships and power imbalances waned. Some might think he deliberately stepped back to avoid a larger scandal, but he disagrees with that assessment.

Living in Chicago for the past five years, I’ve been lucky enough to maintain good relationships and haven’t faced any major professional setbacks, unlike some who’ve lost their jobs or been publicly ‘canceled.’ Honestly, though, I’m used to it. My work has always been a bit edgy, and that naturally brings both praise and criticism – it just comes with the territory for me.

Though “The Sun Never Sets” has numerous kissing scenes, it doesn’t go too much further than that.

Johnson stated he refuses to participate in more explicit scenes. He explained that when he first worked with Joe, he made it clear: ‘I enjoy working with you, but I’m drawing the line at that.’

Fanning was completely comfortable collaborating with Swanberg. He made sure both she and Smith had the option of working with an intimacy coordinator on set, but they both decided it wasn’t needed.

Fanning explains that on set, he never felt pressured to do anything he didn’t want to. If he ever expressed discomfort with a scene or request, the director would immediately agree to change it. For example, during a rainy scene, they both decided to scrap it altogether. Fanning felt he could completely trust the director’s openness and judgment.

Swanberg is known for a unique filmmaking approach where he provides a detailed plan for the story, but the actors create their own lines during rehearsals. For his film, “The Sun Never Sets,” he and co-writer Johnson created a particularly extensive outline, even including some sample dialogue. The actors then had the freedom to build upon that foundation and make the conversations their own.

Fanning recalled an early zoom call with Swanberg and Johnson on which they explained the process.

Fanning explains that the project still feels like a traditional film production. The directors, Jake and Joe, assured him they had a clear plan and that he wouldn’t be left improvising. Despite being nervous, he had a strange feeling everything would work out, and it ultimately did.

Movies

Director Boots Riley’s new film, starring Keke Palmer and Demi Moore, is a funny and bizarre movie with a strong political message.

Even though it takes places in Anchorage, Swanberg calls “The Sun Never Sets” “extremely personal.”

He was writing a film about a man in his 40s, recently divorced, who starts dating someone younger. The storyline about marriage and children came from combining elements of two past relationships into a single character. He sees the story as an exploration of his own thoughts about what future relationships might look like after his divorce.

Fanning delivers a nuanced and compelling performance, potentially one of her best yet. Director Swanberg skillfully draws out both vulnerability and strength from Fanning, who beautifully portrays a woman grappling with big life questions during a turbulent emotional time. Fanning herself noted that this was the most personal role she’d ever taken on.

She believes the aim of Joe’s movies – and her own with this one – is to create a sense of realism. She explains that life is often chaotic and imperfect.

Swanberg makes a brief appearance in the film as the new husband of the main character’s ex-wife. He also named the movie’s two children after his own kids. Swanberg is increasingly creating films that feel personal and capture the experiences of his generation, showing a growth in his filmmaking with more emotional resonance and maturity.

He’s eager to direct films that reflect different stages of life, starting with characters in their 40s and continuing through his later years. He finds the idea particularly exciting when it comes to portraying the dating and intimate lives of older adults, even into their 70s. He’s interested in exploring stories about people settling down, starting over, or simply reassessing their lives, as this is a phase he’s currently focused on.

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2026-03-15 02:32