Before the days of million-dollar sets and A-list casts of Hollywood stars, indie films lived up to film buffs’ expectations of shoestring budgets and community-theater thesps. In Frownland, director Ronald Bronstein returns to their heyday, using grainy cinematography and a script that wouldn’t make any Top-10 lists. The storyline centers on Keith Sontag, who’s a cross between annoying, lonely, and disgusting. With no real friends or job, audiences are left to feel sorry for him, if they can get past their utter hatred of the dude. The screen lights up at 9:15 p.m. today and Sunday at the Cleveland Cinematheque, 11141 East Boulevard. Tickets are $6 to $8. Call 216-421-7450 or visit www.cia.edu/cinematheque.
Fri., May 30, 9:15 p.m.; Sun., June 1, 9:15 p.m., 2008

This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2008.

Vince Grzegorek has been with Scene since 2007 and editor-in-chief since 2012. He previously worked at Discount Drug Mart and Texas Roadhouse.