June Squibb Joins Borstein in 'Turn The Lights Back On'
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- June Squibb (Oscar nominee for Nebraska) is set to star opposite Emmy winner Alex Borstein in indie dramedy "Turn The Lights Back On"
- Borstein plays Emma, an exhausted elementary school teacher grappling with perimenopause, family responsibility, and placing her aging mother into assisted living as the world begins to shut down
- Squibb will play Mary, Emma's mother, a woman clinging to any feelings of control in her life as her faculties decline and dementia worsens
- Dave Pantano writes and directs the feature debut, described in the spirit of Little Miss Sunshine, August: Osage County, and The Brothers McMullen
- The film is based on true events inspired by experiences many families faced during the Covid era
- Producers include Dino Maglaris, Harrison Chiu, and Addie Scott Irwin of Salado Pictures, plus Borstein and Marni Rosenzweig of The Rosenzweig Group
- Squibb recently earned critical acclaim for Eleanor the Great (directed by Scarlett Johansson) and Thelma (Josh Margolin), and will next appear in the fourth and final season of Showtime's Yellowjackets
Why it matters: "Turn The Lights Back On" gives writer-director Dave Pantano's debut two heavyweight leads in Oscar nominee Squibb and Emmy winner Borstein, both playing roles tied to aging, family obligation, and Covid-era pressures. The contained indie dramedy — compared to Little Miss Sunshine and August: Osage County — slots into the adult-skewing family-drama lane that has driven recent indie breakouts.
