FILM. THE PLANTERS.

 

 In the wake of her parents death, awkward telemarketer Martha Plant lives a lonely existence sucking at selling air conditioners, burying stolen treasure in the desert, and eating split pea soup. When she fortuitously collides into Sadie Mayflower, a bubbly vagrant with an orange suitcase and penchant for chit chat, Martha takes her in and offers her a position as her treasure-burying assistant. When Martha learns her job is on the line, Sadie earns her spot on the couch by teaching Martha how to interact with her customers. But Martha quickly discovers her people-savvy friend has multiple personalities, some nicer than others. As Martha navigates having three friends in one, she uses some of her new skills to strike up a companionship with an air-conditioning client, Richard Cox. Meanwhile, Sadie begins seeing biblical visions and seeks spiritual consultation from an elderly church caretaker named Jesús. When someone starts stealing Martha’s treasure, this motley crew of desert loners unite in unusual ways to find the culprit.

 

 Written, Directed, Featuring: Alexandra Kotcheff Hannah Leder (The Morning Show) Also featuring: Phil Parolisi Pepe Serna Jovan Adepo 

Released in 2019

 Film Festival favorite, with awards from: 

 Fargo Film Festival 

San Francisco Independent Film Festival 

Cleveland International Film Festival 

Omaha Film Festival 

Nashville Film Festival 

Raindance Film Festival 

Austin Film Festival

 


 

 



WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT THE PLANTERS? 

 

  • This is not a typical Hollywood film
  • It may feel strange—and that’s part of the task

Give them a focus:

“Pay attention to how relationships are built, not just what happens.”


What does the first image suggest?  


1. What does “independent film” actually mean?

An independent film is produced outside the major studio system (like Warner Bros. or Universal Pictures). That usually means:

  • Lower budget
  • More creative freedom
  • Less pressure to follow mainstream storytelling rules

So no—it’s not “just a weird film.” It may feel quirky or unconventional, but that’s often intentional. Indie films tend to experiment with tone, structure, and characters in ways commercial films don’t.


2. THEMES. 

 

1. Loneliness and connection
The main character’s isolation is central.

  • Why is she disconnected from society?
  • What changes when another person enters her life?

2. Female friendship (but not in a typical way)
The relationship between the two women is unusual:

  • It’s awkward, fragile, and sometimes uncomfortable
  • It raises questions like: What makes a friendship “real”?
  • Is connection always healthy, or can it be co-dependent?

3. Identity and inner voice
The film plays with identity in a quirky way:

  • Students can analyze how inner thoughts or alternate selves are represented
  • Great link to narrative voice in literature

4. Absurdity and meaning
Some scenes may feel random or surreal—but that’s useful:

  • Why would a filmmaker choose absurd humor?
  • Does it reflect how the character sees the world?


3- FIRST VIEWING. ( 5-10 min) 

 

  • What happened in the first part?
  • How does the main character feel?


    • 4- THE SETTING. 

     The setting in The Planters is very important—it’s not just background; it helps tell the story and reflect the characters’ emotions.

     

    The film looks like a painting? Do you know Hopper?  Browse the internet and  find some of his paintings. do you see any connection? 

     

    Is the setting of the film in some way connected with how the characters feel? 

     ISOLATION       LONELINESS       ????

     

    "The film looks like a painting"  Do you agree? 

     

     

    The American Landscape Tradition

    You can also connect it to painters of wide, empty American spaces, like Georgia O'Keeffe or Gregory Crewdson.

    Her paintings often show:

    • Deserts
    • Open space
    • Strong light and simple forms

     In the film:

    • The desert is not just a place—it’s emotional
    • Big empty spaces = small, lonely people


    “The land is big, the person is small.”



    About the houses, we can say that people feel trapped and disconnected? 


    EXERCISES

    1-   Choose  a picture by Gregory Crewdson and tell the rest of the class why do you think it represents the idea of the film...

     

    2-  ANSWER:

    -  Score the film from 1 to 10 and explain why? 

    -  Why are the characters lonely? 

    - Does the story say anything about  the US ?

    -Change one thing in the story. What and why? 

    - What could you say about the house?. Find some adjectives to describe it.  

    - What does the telephone stand for ? 

    - What's the role of religion in the story? 

    - Find an image in the film. Freeze it and explain why you choose it.








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