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ANDI and MAX’s best friend SAM was dumped months ago. But Sam’s ex, POPPY, still hasn’t returned her sweater. THE Sweater - cream colored, thick knit with the perfect hint of fraying. It’s an injustice which Andi, recently dumped herself (but why even bring that up?), demands Sam no longer suffers!
So, in Andi’s mind the world becomes a gritty, neon laced action-thriller as she and Max, with a reluctant Sam in tow, infiltrate Poppy’s house party in search of The Sweater. As the night unfolds and multiple plans unravel, though, it becomes clear Andi’s vehemence has little to do with her friend’s knitwear and all to do with hiding from her own heartbreak.
While Max remains endearingly committed to tracking down The Sweater and Sam finds herself ready to pursue a friendship with Poppy, Andi’s grip on her slick, action-hero-savior-complex threatens to tear the three pals apart!
Will they get The Sweater? Will Andi get over her ex? Will you laugh?
Maybe! Maybe! Yeah duh!!
A delightful romp from denial to acceptance after being broken up with, SAM WANTS HER SWEATER BACK is ultimately about recovery from heartbreak through the love of friends.
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A short film filled with shenanigans, goofery, and tomfoolery, SAM WANTS HER SWEATER BACK is the debut film from writer/director Whitney Chitwood. An entirely Chicago-based short film, 90% of the cast & crew are POC, LGBTQ, and/or women identified.
It raised 100% of its $30k crowdfunding campaign on Seed & Spark and is a co-production with Chicago's own Full Spectrum Features (DESIRE LINES; SIGNATURE MOVE; DEBATERS). The project was awarded the Mark Duplass Spotlight from Seed & Spark and the script placed top-ten in Oscar qualifying festival Cinequest's Screenplay Competition.
Visually and narratively, SWHSB presents two specific themes. The neon-drenched fantasy world juxtaposed with reality's inviting warmth illustrates the absurdity of avoidance, while the characters' ranging interactions with doors depicts their capability to move on from the past.
At some point, we've all contrived worlds where we cast ourselves as the dutiful hero, rescuing someone else so we can avoid confronting our own pain - abandoning nuance for strict "winners and losers". Especially after heartbreak, it's easy to forget the only way out is through and only by looking to our communities for understanding and care can we mend ourselves.
If you've enjoyed films like BOTTOMS and FIRE ISLAND, SAM WANTS HER SWEATER BACK will be right up your alley; and we hope the film leaves you awash in appreciation and love for your own beautiful, chaotic, life-affirming friendships and community (regardless of who keeps the sweater).
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