FOLLOWING FILMS - Podcast, Movies, Music, and More

Thank you for listening to the Following Films Podcast. If you are anything like me, you are always searching for those rare stories that feel both intellectually sharp and deeply human, films that capture the messy, rhythmic chaos of life and relationships. Today, we are diving into a project that fits that description perfectly: the new romantic dramedy, Fantasy Life. Fresh off a triumphant run at the SXSW Film Festival—where it took home the Audience Award and a Special Jury Award for its star, Amanda Peet—Fantasy Life is a smart, New York-centric story written and directed by its lead, Matthew Shear. The film follows Sam Stein, played by Shear, a former paralegal who, after a panic attack, finds himself babysitting for his own psychiatrist. What follows is a summer on Martha's Vineyard involving a stalled actor played by Peet, her rock-bassist husband played by Alessandro Nivola, a house full of grandparents, and the delicate, shared history of mental illness. It features an in...

The New York indie scene is about to get a shot in the arm with the upcoming theatrical release of Fantasy Life. After cleaning up on the festival circuit, taking home the Audience Award and a Special Jury Award for Amanda Peet at SXSW, this "smart New York romantic comedy" is finally heading to the big screen. The film kicks off its run in New York City on March 27th, followed by a nationwide expansion on April 3rd. The story follows Sam Stein (played by writer-director Matthew Shear), a down-on-his-luck paralegal who pivots from a mid-career panic attack into an unexpected gig babysitting for his own psychiatrist. The job takes him to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer, where he finds himself living in a crowded, high-energy house with the woman he’s falling for (Amanda Peet), her rock-bassist husband (Alessandro Nivola), and a revolving door of quirky grandparents. It’s a classic setup for a comedy of errors, grounded by what critics are already calling a powerhouse performa...