Ira Sachs and Kirsten Johnson: Inside Their Unique and Artistic Co-Parenting
In addition to their distinctive cinematic output, filmmakers Kirsten Johnson and Ira Sachs also have a unique home life. The “Cameraperson” and “Little Men” directors are co-parents of two children along with Sachs’ partner, the painter Boris Torres; Johnson, who birthed the twins in 2012 and is not romantically linked to either Sachs or Torres, lives in the apartment directly next door to the couple.
That arrangement is the subject of a New York Times profile, which notes that the filmmakers first met at the Venice Film Festival 10 years ago. Johnson re-connected with Sachs not long after he became involved with Torres, and eventually the subject of children came up. “A mutual friend knew we were both interested in having kids and possibly with people that we knew,” Sachs says, and eventually the trio went to see a therapist. “We were interested in the issues in terms of co-parenting that we should consider.”
READ MORE: ‘Little Men’ Review: Ira Sachs’ Smallest Movie Might Also Be His Best
“It has been fantastic for each of us to have our own worlds but to have this proximity,” says Johnson of the fact that she lives next door to Sachs and Torres; the three previously shared one apartment, which was considerably more hectic. “The kids feel a lot of freedom around it. I think for them, it feels like an extended world.”
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
