Fantasy Life

After losing his job as a paralegal, Sam Stein suffers a panic attack that unexpectedly lands him a babysitting job for his psychiatrist’s three granddaughters. Their mother, Dianne—a stalled actress in a troubled marriage to a touring rock bassist—shares a surprising bond with Sam over their struggles with mental illness. Over a summer on Martha’s Vineyard, surrounded by kids, grandparents, and emotional landmines, an unexpected connection grows. Matthew Shear’s refreshing directorial debut explores the uneasy, often darkly funny terrain of mental health and human connection.