STARLET

In this screening we present Starlet (2012), directed by Sean Baker. Set in the San Fernando Valley, the film tells the story of an unexpected connection between two women from very different generations.

Sean Baker is widely known for his empathetic and realistic portrayals of people who often live on the margins of mainstream society. In Starlet, he explores themes of loneliness, friendship and the small moments that can unexpectedly change a life.

The film stars Dree Hemingway, acting alongside Besedka Johnson, who fulfilled a lifelong dream by appearing in a feature film at the age of 87. Sadly, she passed away a year after the film’s release, but her performance remains one of the film’s most memorable elements.

Starlet is the first entry in Baker’s so-called “Sex Worker Trilogy”, which also includes Tangerine (2015) and The Florida Project (2017). Similar themes continue to appear in his later films, including Red Rocket (2021) and the Palme d’Or and Oscar-winning Anora (2024).

This screening is part of our Sean Baker retrospective and is presented in collaboration with Dive-in 48.