There Goes Somebody's Miracle...

You know, I'm praying for it.

  • Reviews
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Just This
  • About

Explore

  • All Reviews
  • Movies
  • Books
  • @ Third Coast Review
  • Film Work

Connect

Movies, Travel · October 14, 2014

A Golden Weekend

Last week marked the 50th iteration of the Chicago International Film Festival, making it one of the oldest film festivals in the country (NYFF hit 52 this year; San Francisco is already at 57!).

For growing up a stone’s throw from the city, I only really attended the festival once I’d moved away and began working in the industry myself, driving up from Indianapolis for a quick weekend trip and a few movies.

This year, several of Film Movement’s titles screened in the festival, and as a long-time partner, the organizers were kind enough to invite one of us out for the occasion. As luck would have it, I was in line to accept the invitation, so this weekend I spent an incredible couple of days on a date with my favorite big city in the country.

And it was lovely.

By 10:30 Saturday morning, I was checked into the hotel and set up with my Festival badge, with time enough to find a nearby Yolk for brunch before a big-screen showing of 1954’s A Star Is Born. Not sure how I’d made it this long having not seen it; Judy Garland was so much more than Dorothy or Andy Hardy’s best gal.

After a cocktail hour to toast Scandinavian cinema (where I didn’t speak the language but did drink the Stella), I headed back to the theater for a screening of Rudderless, William H. Macy’s directing debut. A slight but well-meaning little indie, by the time it was over my 5a wake-up call had caught up with me and I called it a night.

Sunday couldn’t have started on a better note had I planned it, as I lazed around my hotel room with CBS Sunday Morning and coffee before heading out for the day. Caught up with some family, caught some of the Bears game, then caught Force Majeure, Sweden’s deceptively layered Oscar entry. With some time between screenings, I headed to a festival cocktail hour with filmmakers and other guests, chatted over Stella (are you sensing a theme here?) and small bites. Networking skills dialed to 11, I shook hands, made small talk and managed to make a few good connections that carried over to late-night drinks at Scofflaw. By the time I hailed an Uber back to the hotel at 1am, I’d clocked one heck of a festival day.

Monday brought rain, which – along with a completely unnecessary parade for Columbus Day – managed to totally derail my schedule. Once I’d confirmed I was going to be in Chicago, the festival put me on an Industry panel – believe it or not, the first time I’ve participated in such a conversation in all my time at festivals. So I was understandably looking forward to the hour, meeting my fellow panel-mates and hopefully contributing something worthwhile to the topic.

Traffic had other plans, however, and I ended up being a half hour late for the affair, sneaking into my seat at the front of the group as seamlessly as I could manage. Despite my tardiness, I was able to chime in on a few interesting points, and as the formal discussion wrapped several attendees approached me directly with comments and questions. Crisis averted.

photo

Monday evening, I snuck in two more films – the underwhelming Underdog and The Salvation – and by the time I left the late show the day’s rain and clouds had cleared to leave behind a glistening Windy City just perfect for a walk back to the hotel. Down Michigan, Wabash and State, I took my time and took in the views. For all my time back in Illinois, I spend surprisingly little in the heart of the city, so a chance to soak it all in didn’t go unappreciated.

My flight back to NYC came early Tuesday morning, and I was back in the office and back to the grind by early afternoon. But the weekend – the films, the connections, the drinks, the conversations, the sights – it was an unexpected but all together fantastic way to spend a few days.

2014-10-13 22.27.32

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

Posted By: Lisa Trifone · In: Movies, Travel

Coming Soon: October
Watch This: Citizenfour

You’ll Also Love

Dispatch: 59th Chicago International Film Festival’s First Weekend
Chicago To Do: Summer Adventures
The Shape of This Thing

Get on the List

About Photo
Hello! I'm Lisa, and this is—or rather I am—Somebody's Miracle. Explore everything I'm watcing, reading and baking, all my far-flung adventures and ones closer to home. Thanks for reading.

Connect

Get on the List

Subscribe for the latest posts, musings and updates directly in your inbox.

Categories

  • Reviews
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Just This
  • About

Search

From the Archives

May 2025
S M T W T F S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jul    

lisabeesa

Two years ago today, I was coming off what - until Two years ago today, I was coming off what - until that point - was the biggest adventure of my life. I bought a home. I turned 40. I spent a month in Paris. I’d hit a new career milestone. Life was every bit what I imagined it could be. 

Then I walked into a first date with a guy I met on the internet and very quickly realized my (our!) best adventure had just begun. 

Two years of getting my goat (and delighting in it), because you love to see me laugh. Two years of not just making dinners but plating them, too, because you know I like a pretty plate. Two years of grand gestures not because you’re big on gestures, but because I am.

I thought I had it all figured out, and I think I would’ve been fine if you’d never walked into my life. But good grief am I glad you did. ❤️
🎄 Holiday Playlist! 🎄 It's my favorite trad 🎄 Holiday Playlist! 🎄

It's my favorite tradition (of so many!) of the season: my annual holiday playlist. Twenty-four songs. Two hours of tunes.

Sabrina Carpenter and The Kinks. My Morning Jacket and Kacey Musgraves. Ben Folds and Bette Midler and Bad Religion. 

You can listen on Spotify at the link in my bio!

Happy, happy holidays to you and yours. Wishing you a joyful season!
I’d watch Pablo Larrain’s version of paint dry I’d watch Pablo Larrain’s version of paint drying, but thankfully his latest biopic of a famous, troubled woman (after JACKIE and SPENCER) is a far more engaging fever dream of passing time and missed opportunities.

MARIA, featuring a performance by Angelina Jolie that vibrates with vulnerability, is not perfect but it is fascinating. 

Now in theaters; on Netflix next month. Full review at the link!
My phone yelled at me this morning that I was out My phone yelled at me this morning that I was out of storage space, so over a couple cups of coffee I went back through this year’s photos and videos to purge what I don’t need on my device. 

Stumbled on this snap Brian took of me over dinner back in…June?…and honestly, I just love it. I love the way he sees me and I love the way I look when I see him. ❤️

Take care of each other. That’s all.
Eight years ago this week, @justin.f.brady and I w Eight years ago this week, @justin.f.brady and I went to see @waitressmusical on Broadway, and after the show we were treated to full band karaoke with die-hard fans. 

At the end of the show tunes lovefest, @sarabareilles—who wrote the show’s music and was hosting the karaoke—took to the mic to perform Brave, and it was more cathartic than I think any of us realized in the moment. 

It was the night before the 2016 election and none of us were (looking back now) as worried as we should have been. I had early voted, the wind seemed to be at @hillaryclinton’s back and we were ready for history to be made. 

I’ve thought about (and talked about) that moment a lot in the years since - it’s a great story! But especially today, as we’re on the eve of another monumental Election Day, I am imploring anyone reading this who may still be unsure or may not yet have a plan to be brave and vote for the person who is NOT a convicted criminal, serial sexual assaulter, con-man and dictator-in-waiting. @kamalaharris is the only way forward.

We can get back to debating policy in four years. For now, please vote for humanity, for democracy, for decency and for sanity. I wanna see you be brave.
Signs of life! 👋 I feel like I’ve been in a Signs of life! 👋 

I feel like I’ve been in a fog the last week or so, and it’s going to last at least through Tuesday…but I’m here, I promise!

Got to catch @musictheaterworks’ LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (with the lovely @yersha_la_la_la for company!) and it was delightful. Great production with just a hint of that community theater patina, a bit rough around the edges. (Is it just me or is that S in “Florist” totally upside down?!)

Full review coming soon at @thirdcoastreview!
This one gets a spot on the grid! Congrats to Drew This one gets a spot on the grid! Congrats to Drew and Jean on a beautiful wedding day and the start of an exciting new chapter. (But really, thanks for such a great reason to wear my new favorite dress! 😉)
I absolutely love this time of year. 🍂🍁 I absolutely love this time of year. 🍂🍁
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Disclosure

Copyright © 2025 There Goes Somebody's Miracle... · Theme by 17th Avenue

 

Loading Comments...