While Sean Baker had already directed four feature films, Tangerine was his breakout moment on the global stage. And what a debut: made on a shoestring budget of just $100,000, the film was shot using iPhone 5S cameras to cut costs. This approach fits its premise—a day in the life of Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), a transgender sex worker who, fresh out of prison, discovers her boyfriend and pimp has been cheating on her with a cisgender woman. With the help of her friend (Mya Taylor), she sets out to confront him, showcasing the director’s distinct style and thematic interests.
Baker’s next film, The Florida Project, brought him greater visibility, featuring Willem Dafoe, who earned an Oscar nomination for his role. Yet Baker remained focused on the lives of America’s marginalized, this time juxtaposing the bleakness of adulthood with the innocence of childhood. The film tells the story of Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), a mischievous girl living with her mother Halley (Bria Vinaite) in a small motel room near Disney World. While the child’s days are filled with adventures, her mother resorts to increasingly risky methods to make ends meet.
Baker’s seventh film, Red Rocket, premiered in the Official Selection at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, turning its gaze to a male perspective. It follows Mickey Saber (Simon Rex), a washed-up porn actor who returns to his small Texas hometown, where he’s anything but welcome.