Indie filmmaking is hard. Living in Oblivion makes it hilarious.
To mark the 30th anniversary of one of the great underground comedies of the ’90s, CTV is thrilled to screen Living in Oblivion (1995)—a film that every independent filmmaker, dreamer, and DIY auteur will recognize as painfully, absurdly true.
Directed by Tom DiCillo and starring Steve Buscemi in one of his most iconic roles, Living in Oblivion is a behind-the-scenes satire of the chaos, egos, technical failures, and emotional meltdowns that plague a low-budget film shoot. Structured in three surreal, interlocking acts (each one more unhinged than the last), it’s both a love letter to and a roast of the indie film scene—equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.
In a city like Eugene, where grassroots film groups, student productions, and community art projects are constantly finding new ways to make the most with the least, Living in Oblivion couldn’t be more relevant. It reminds us why we love making art together, even when everything goes wrong—and why we keep going anyway.
Come laugh, cringe, and commiserate as we celebrate 30 years of one of independent cinema’s funniest—and most painfully accurate—portraits of the creative process.
“Making a movie is a lot like life: nothing goes as planned, and everyone thinks they’re the star.”
90 minutes. Comedy/Drama. Rated R.