Casting Willem Dafoe as the moral center and largely only established star in the film (he's collected a slew of award - season recognition alone including from the Golden Globes, SAG and
Critics» Choice), Baker went for fresh faces in order to give a grounded, sincere sense of drama, specifically Bria Vinaite and Prince, who play a mother and young daughter, respectively,
dancing at the end of a string to make ends
meet.