Starlet (film)
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Sean Baker |
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| Music by | Manual |
| Cinematography | Radium Cheung |
| Edited by | Sean Baker |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Music Box Films |
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Release date
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Running time
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103 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $88,212 (US) |
Starlet is a 2012 independent dramatic film by director Sean Baker starring Dree Hemingway and newcomer Besedka Johnson. Starlet explores the unlikely friendship between 21-year-old Jane and 85-year-old Sadie, two women whose lives intersect in California's San Fernando Valley.
Jane, who also introduces herself as Tess, is a young woman who lives in an apartment with two dysfunctional roommates, Melissa, and Melissa's boyfriend Mikey, and her Chihuahua dog Starlet. Jane decides she wants to personalize her room, but Melissa says the room cannot be painted because Mikey needs it for "shoots". Jane decides to buy new furniture at neighborhood yard sales. At one such sale she comes across an old woman named Sadie, from whom she buys a thermos.
While Melissa and Mikey argue downstairs, she discovers a stash of money in the thermos. She spends some of the money on extravagant luxuries, but then decides to return the money to Sadie. Sadie, however, dismisses Jane before she can explain. Sadie takes a cab to the grocery store; Jane follows, pays and sends away the cab, and offers Sadie a ride home. The two women spend time together in Sadie's house; Jane gives her number to a skeptical Sadie and tells her to call her if she needs anything.
Jane later surprises Sadie by joining her at a bingo game. Once more paying off Sadie's taxi, she drives her home and asks her about whether she wins at bingo. Sadie responds by spraying Jane with mace. After a talk with the police, Jane leaves visibly angry. Sadie calls Jane the next day to reconcile; the two spend some time together and Jane learns that Sadie, a widow, loves Paris but has never visited the city.
Melissa is fired from her job where the pair are adult film stars. Jane convinces their boss to suspend Melissa for a month instead, and Jane consequently gets a promotion. While Jane is at work, she leaves Starlet with Sadie, who loses the dog while tending to her garden. Sadie recovers the dog after a desperate and exhausting search. When Jane arrives to retrieve Starlet, Sadie seems troubled and wants to put an end to their friendship, which upsets Jane.
Melissa, advises Jane to spend the money on someone she cares about, so Jane buys two first-class tickets to Paris for Sadie and herself. Sadie, however, refuses to go. Jane buys 25 Bingo cards and makes a deal with Sadie that if she wins at bingo, Sadie will go on the trip. Jane loses because Sadie herself wins the game; Sadie ultimately agrees to go on the trip anyway.
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