Writer and director Joe Swanberg directs one of his first major films for the first time in nearly a decade. He has a vast history and many artistic works in the filmmaking industry.  A lot of it came about while being part of the Chicago film scene and he is back in the game now. Here he gives us a film that takes place in Alaska. It is called The Sun Never Sets with its main role played by Dakota Fanning.  The title speaks for the film itself in a bright context because in Alaska, it remains in daylight for many hours of the day continuously. The context of the film thoughfocuses on finding common ground with relationships.

 

Fanning plays a girl named Wendy.  She is trying to find a relationship that will give her life meaning. She does have a close bond with her ex-boyfriend Jack, played by Jake Johnson. She spends time with his family, and he is always guiding her. Despite their complex relationship, he is the one that cheers her on to try new things and encourages her to try to date others. This puts her in a bind of attempting to date people that she sees fit. For Wendy, the thought of finding happiness is not easy to come by.

 

Swanberg’s method of directing is humanistic. He captures the moments in Fanning’s performance of her feeling disconnected and hiding it from those around her. There are moments where she displays vulnerability, shyness, and regret. On the other hand, she wants to feel loved and desired. She then has an encounter with another ex-boyfriend from her past named Chuck, played by Cory Michael Smith. This one is a strongconnection, but for Wendy the discrepancies tend to overwhelm her.

 

The film has wild nature throughout in portraying the areas of Alaska. Wendy works in construction and the terrain, like her life, has no easy slopes. She has no clear way to find happiness in a heartbeat. Jake thinks that she is capable of it, but on the other hand he is also just being the moral support. The entangled closeness of these relationships creates a portrait of why being someone who is kind is not always easy The longings of  the heart are not delivered overnight. Swanberg’s method is vivid. Even though the film drags in moments, there are still areas where light shines. Even in the Alaska setting, there is room for growth and positivity.

 

This is one of the shining performances I have seen from Dakota Fanning. With her career starting at a very young age, she has grown into someone that channels the grey areas of adulthood well. From starting in films where she was the sassy child to thefrustrated teenager, she has moved beyond that.  Her talent lies in portraying a character in complex relationship dilemmas as she searches for love. She is a force of nature in The Sun Never Sets. Three out of four stars.