“Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake” is a film that’s undeniably pleasing to look at, but ultimately leaves you with more questions than answers. Plus, it’s painfully dull.

In her feature debut, director Sierra Falconer attempts to capture the quiet rhythms of life around Green Lake, where the lives of various characters intersect. While it feels highly personal and paints a vivid picture of a peaceful lakeside town, the film doesn’t quite manage to land the emotional depth or storytelling impact it seems to be striving for.

The anthology format is pointless here. The way the stories are tied together seems strained, and instead of feeling like an organic exploration of lives intersecting, it comes across more like a collection of loosely connected sketches that never quite form a cohesive whole. The characters, while potentially interesting on paper, are underdeveloped and downright forgettable. A girl learning to sail, a boy fighting for first chair, two sisters running a bed-and-breakfast, and a fisherman chasing the catch of his life — none of these storylines feel particularly compelling or new. Each scenario is pleasant but lacks the spark needed to make it feel in any way meaningful.

The performances don’t help much, either. While the cast is clearly giving it their best, the acting is amateurish. The cast lacks the skill to convey the depth and nuance needed to truly bring these characters to life. It’s hard to get invested in a character when the performances don’t quite convince you of their emotional journey.

The film does manage to do a few things well, like evoking a sense of nostalgia for those lazy summer days spent by a lake. There’s a certain charm to the film’s introspective cinematography, which captures the water’s beauty and the quiet moments of life. The film is clearly crafted with a lot of love for its setting, and you can feel Falconer’s sensitivity to both people and place. The sounds, colors, and textures of the lake are immersive as you’re transported into this serene world.

But even with its pretty imagery and introspective moments of human connection, “Sunfish (& Other Stories On Green Lake)” ultimately rings hollow. There’s a certain emptiness in its storytelling that lacks the depth and emotional pull to make it truly meaningful or memorable.

By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS