A culinary journey through grief and growth – Munn returns with his most intimate role to date
As Love and Lemon Trees gears up for its 2025 release, the film is already making quiet waves, promising a grounded and emotionally rich portrayal of grief, connection, and healing.
From his Cannes debut in Dangerous Animals to an upcoming turn at Vienna’s Indie Film & Screenplay Gala, James Munn is riding a serious hot streak. His latest, Love and Lemon Trees, just wrapped a string of intimate Paris screenings—and the buzz is only building.
Written and directed by Savanna Crasto, with co-direction by Pierce Gordon, the film evokes something deeply intimate and its emotions are captured in graceful, luminous detail by cinematographer Robert Plaza.
Set against the backdrop of a young chef’s career and personal life colliding, the story of Love and Lemon Trees indirectly follows Carter, a character who returns home to support his grieving family after the death of a loved one. As he steps away from his culinary dreams, Carter’s journey unfolds through the complex emotions of loss, sacrifice and the painful realities of moving forward.
The film doesn’t focus on one character alone—it’s a layered ensemble piece where every character grapples with their own shade of sorrow.
What follows is a raw exploration of personal sacrifice, unspoken emotions, and the complicated beauty of moving forward.
Returning to the role he first brought to life in Chasing Lemons, Munn delivers a performance anchored in emotional honesty.
“You want to lose yourself in the character, in turn to find yourself as a person,” he reflects. And in Love and Lemon Trees, that sentiment rings loud and clear.
His portrayal of Carter is both vulnerable and quietly powerful, carrying the weight of family grief while wrestling with his own suppressed dreams.
From unresolved guilt to the ache of unspoken love, Love and Lemon Trees unpacks grief in all its messy, contradictory forms, held together by an unflinching sense of emotional realism.
Munn’s role in this film adds to his growing body of work, which includes his breakout performance in Troppo (2024) as Bart McQuillan and his earlier portrayal of Carter Ashmore in Chasing Lemons (2023). His career continues to progress with, Love and Lemon Trees (2025), Dangerous Animals (2025), and Good Cop Bad Cop (2025), further showcasing his talent.
If Love and Lemon Trees is any indication, James Munn is just getting started.
Watch the official trailer for Love and Lemon Trees below.
