In discussing ‘Fantasy Life’, Matthew Shear and Amanda Peet reflected on the film’s origins, its humor, and its approach to mental health. The film, which marked Shear’s feature debut as a writer-director, won the Narrative Feature Audience Award at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival. Peet earned a Special Jury Award for her performance.
“I hope that ‘Fantasy Life’ brings humor, nuance, and something recognizable to the conversation if it seems like something that’s sort of familiar,” Shear says about the role the film can play in lessening the stigma in discussing mental illness.
“I felt like it was a really good take on what a lot of people struggle with,” Peet said about what the film has to say about struggles with mental illness.
In a brief but thoughtful conversation, Matthew Shear and Amanda Peet discussed the personal origins and thematic ambitions of ‘Fantasy Life’, with Shear explaining how the screenplay emerged from a difficult period in his own life and a need for creative outlet. Both emphasized the film’s nuanced, human-scale portrayal of mental health, with Peet drawn to its depiction of high-functioning individuals whose struggles are often invisible and inconsistent. The pair also touched on the importance of authentic Jewish representation in casting, the film’s reception on the festival circuit, and their shared hope that audiences connect with its blend of humor and emotional honesty.
In ‘Fantasy Life’, an anxious former law student (Matthew Shear) unexpectedly takes a job caring for his psychiatrist’s three young granddaughters, only to develop feelings for their mother (Amanda Peet), an actress navigating a troubled marriage.
Greenwich Entertainment released ‘Fantasy Life’ in theaters on March 27.
Awards Focus: It’s so nice to see you today. How are you doing?
Amanda Peet: Good.
Matthew Shear: I’m good. How are you?
AF: I’m doing well. What was the genesis behind ‘Fantasy Life’?
Matthew Shear: Well, ‘Fantasy Life’ came from me writing my first screenplay. As an actor looking for a job, I just needed an outlet. I was in a difficult moment. I wrote it and eventually completed it. And yeah, that’s where it came from—sort of a humble place.
AF: There’s been a lot of work in trying to lessen the stigma in discussing mental health and I’m very open about my own experiences in that. What do you hope to do with ‘Fantasy Life’ regarding the conversation?
Matthew Shear: I hope that ‘Fantasy Life’ brings humor, nuance, and something recognizable to the conversation if it seems like something that’s sort of familiar.
AF: Amanda, what was it about the script that drew you to the role and at what point in the process did you decide to produce the film?
Amanda Peet: I actually liked what you just said. I felt like it was a really good take on what a lot of people struggle with. I’ve had my struggles, too, with mental illness. I think that I liked that Matthew was portraying something other than like people roaming the halls of Bellevue and being put into straitjackets and padded cells. I liked that it was kind of more nuanced. These people are high-functioning people who sometimes are so sad and anxious that they can’t get out of bed, but it’s inconsistent and it’s not easy to recognize and not easy to pinpoint.
In my character’s case, she has all the money in the world, and yet, she feels sad. I feel like I liked the way Matthew handled that and the fact that the movie was funny as well. I was very excited. When I read the psychiatrist scene where he talks about his intrusive antisemitic thoughts, I was like, I’m going to do this movie.
AF: Yeah. It seems very timely on that front.
Amanda Peet: How so?
AF: We’re living through a pandemic of antisemitism.
Amanda Peet: Right, yes. I wasn’t sure how you meant that.
AF: When it came to casting the film, how important was it to cast authentically with Jewish actors?
Matthew Shear: It was important to me. I am a Jewish actor and I feel sometimes annoyed that Jews are cast in parts that I’ve gone in for and stuff. But I did—it was important to me. A lot of the actors are Jewish. But I also feel like it’s important to know when someone looks Jewish enough that you wouldn’t even question it.
To me, like Alessandro Nivola, he has played so many kinds of Jews—Chasidic, secular—he’s so versatile in this particular way, amongst other ways. I didn’t feel bad about it.
AF: The film has made a number of stops on the festival circuit before its release this month, including a pair of awards following its premiere at SXSW. For the ones that you were able to appear in person, what has the reception been?
Matthew Shear: I always am hoping for laughs. That’s sometimes a dangerous metric to judge an audience by. But people do seem to enjoy the film and get its sense of humor and are, at least to my eyes, drawn in at the right at the moments I hope they would. I’ve had good experiences. I get very, very hurt and disappointed when something doesn’t get a laugh that has gotten a laugh before.
Amanda Peet: But who’s counting?
AF: What do you hope people take away from watching the film?
Matthew Shear: I hope people take away a sense of warmth, humor, and empathy for the two lead characters and their uncertain paths ahead.
AF: Thank you so much and have a happy Passover.
Matthew Shear: Oh, thank you. You too.
Amanda Peet: Happy Passover.
Matthew Shear: Happy Passover. And thanks for the questions.