Roesch NJJFF: Fantasy Life
A neurotic man becomes a nanny for a wealthy family, sparking a complicated relationship with their actress mother in this sharp comedy.
Post-screening Q&A with writer-director Matthew Shear on Zoom
Director: Matthew Shear
2025, USA, 91 minutes
English with English subtitles
Feature
After losing his paralegal job and suffering a panic attack, 30-something Sam (writer-director Matthew Shear) stumbles into an unexpected role: babysitting his psychiatrist’s three lively granddaughters. What begins as a one-time favor turns into a year-long entanglement with the family. Sam becomes especially close with their mother, Dianne (Amanda Peet, in a career-best performance), an actress whose career has stalled and whose marriage to touring rock musician David (Alessandro Nivola) is growing strained. As boundaries of employment, friendship, and family blur, Sam and Dianne work towards their own epiphanies.
Fantasy Life features an all-star supporting ensemble, including Judd Hirsch, Bob Balaban, and Holland Taylor. It has been a film festival hit, screening at the Montclair Film Festival and winning the Audience Award and Special Jury Prize for Narrative Feature at SXSW.
A neurotic man becomes a nanny for a wealthy family, sparking a complicated relationship with their actress mother in this sharp comedy.
Post-screening Q&A with writer-director Matthew Shear on Zoom
Director: Matthew Shear
2025, USA, 91 minutes
English with English subtitles
Feature
After losing his paralegal job and suffering a panic attack, 30-something Sam (writer-director Matthew Shear) stumbles into an unexpected role: babysitting his psychiatrist’s three lively granddaughters. What begins as a one-time favor turns into a year-long entanglement with the family. Sam becomes especially close with their mother, Dianne (Amanda Peet, in a career-best performance), an actress whose career has stalled and whose marriage to touring rock musician David (Alessandro Nivola) is growing strained. As boundaries of employment, friendship, and family blur, Sam and Dianne work towards their own epiphanies.
Fantasy Life features an all-star supporting ensemble, including Judd Hirsch, Bob Balaban, and Holland Taylor. It has been a film festival hit, screening at the Montclair Film Festival and winning the Audience Award and Special Jury Prize for Narrative Feature at SXSW.
Co-sponsored by Joyce & Jerry Bertner; Sharon & Jimmy Schwarz
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Highlights
- 2 hours 30 minutes
- In person
Refund Policy
Location
JCC MetroWest
760 Northfield Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
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