Although alienation and ennui are universal, these films speak specifically to the ways in which Portland can be a huge bummer. Though they differ in tone and content, they all portray the city as a place whose hostility is masked by urbanity. These are visions of Portland where the cute apartment and trendy bar become psychic prisons. Anthony reminded me of a friend of mine, while Some Days gets at how smothering the cutesiness of this city feels when you're out of work. And sometimes, you just don't want to be bothered by one of those charity assholes who try to wave you down as you try to walk through downtown.