Yahoo Lifestyle Karsen Liotta Talks Sundance Film ‘Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)’
Name: Karsen Liotta
Sundance project: Anthology film “Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)” which premiered in the festival’s U.S. dramatic competition.
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Notable past credits: Liotta starred in an episode of Apple TV+ series “Black Bird” and the 2020 SXSW film “Teenage Badass.” She also appeared in the Adam Sandler film “Hubie Halloween,” which costarred her father, the late Ray Liotta.
When Liotta read the script for “Sunfish,” she could already sense that the film was destined to premiere at Sundance.
”I had a feeling before I even shot it,” says Liotta. “But to actually find out that it’s solidified and now it’s actually happening, I was just so happy for everybody. I could not have been more excited — and especially excited for Sierra.”
Liotta stars in director Sierra Falconer’s directorial debut, the sunny four-part anthology film “Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake),” which takes place in and around a small lake community during summertime. Each section of the film is connected, sometimes loosely; Liotta’s chapter kicks off as she drives past the subject of the previous story.
”People have no idea who each other are, but everybody’s close,” says Liotta of the premise, explaining that she was drawn to the film’s exploration of lives running parallel in close proximity. “I thought that was such an interesting and beautiful thing. That’s in any town, regardless where you grew up. You don’t know what your next door neighbor, who’s going through what, and how much you could connect — or have nothing in common with — anything that they’re going through.”
Liotta leads the film’s third chapter, “Two Hearted,” as a young mom and bartender who introduces new excitement into her life by agreeing to help a bar patron in his quest to catch a large fish that he’s spotted in the lake. Although originally slated to audition for a different section of the film, Liotta was immediately drawn to the character when reading the script.
“I can relate so much to this life and this story,” says Liotta, who felt an affinity despite very different circumstances. “I didn’t grow up in a super small town where I felt like I couldn’t get out, but I could understand the want and need and feel of ‘there’s more.’ It really resonated with me that she feels so trapped where she is,” adds Liotta, who’s grew up in and is based in L.A. “That’s such a human emotion, feeling, and experience; something that everybody can relate to in one way or another. And I definitely did, and I was like — this is what I want to, I want to be a part of it, and I want to tell it.”
Looking toward her next potential project, Liotta has her sights set on finding a role that will allow her to continue exploring big emotional stakes.
”I’m itching to have something that I can really like sink my teeth into,” she says. “Something gritty, something emotional — something I can really transform into.”
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