Stairs and Cheese (Not Necessarily Simultaneously)

By Rob Christopher in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 22, 2007 3:00PM

Now that the Chicago International Film Festival is over, we can finally turn our attention to some homegrown cinematic delights.

Currently showing at the Siskel for a week-long run is Joe Swanberg's dramedy Hannah Takes the Stairs. A microbudgeted movie shot in Logan Square, it's been taking the festival circuit by storm and garnering write-ups in the New York Times. Despite his movie's acclaim, Swanberg himself, according to a new article in the Reader, is still just eking out a day-to-day living. Swanberg is scheduled to be present at Thursday's screening for a Q & A. You can ask him about his role in "mumblecore" filmmaking (a moniker that's catchy but inaccurate: the filmmaking in this genre is as articulate as anything this side of Cassavetes).

Coming up in a few weeks at The Midwest Independent Film Festival is an encore screening of Jeff Garlin's I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (it showed earlier this month at the Music Box). The Curb Your Enthusiasm comedian wrote, directed and stars as a lonely actor looking for love in Chicago. He thinks he's found it when he meets (heaven help him) ice cream parlor attendant Sarah Silverman. Expect lots of pungent Chicago scenery and zingy ad-libs courtesy of cameos by Amy Sedaris, Dan Castellaneta and Bonnie Hunt.

It doesn't screen until Tuesday, November 6th but it pays to think ahead: If you RSVP now you'll get your ticket for free! Which will leave you with more dough for cheese.