Caitlin Plays Herself

In the latest film from Joe Swanberg, the title character and lead actor is Caitlin Stainken – in real life, a member of ‘The Neo-Futurists’, an experimental theater ensemble based in Chicago. A distinguishing characteristic of their performances is that actors play only themselves in an effort to reach the audience as honestly and directly as possible. The approach is in line with Swanberg’s filmmaking method, which has always aimed to blur the boundaries between the actors as people and the characters they portray, always seeking the utmost authenticity and honesty. The title of Caitlin Plays Herself expresses the film in a nutshell, describing both its content and form. Loosely connected scenes depict Caitlin – a lonely and somewhat uncertain theater actor. The manic, tight frames of Swanberg’s early work give way to long static scenes, but his emotional realism remains unrelenting.