Josh Loeb Released Feature Film In Spite of Ourselves
The Portland-based movie opens today at Living Room Theaters.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Food and Drink
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Portlanders can now see the city depicted through a new lens as Josh Loeb’s film, In Spite of Ourselves, premieres at Living Room Theaters. The production highlights the Sunnyside neighborhood and Southeast Portland businesses.
Why it matters
The project attempts to move beyond common portrayals of Portland, focusing on a specific pocket of Southeast Portland within a 15- to 20-block radius. Loeb, a restaurateur, drew on his 25 years of experience to manage the production.
The production focused on a 15- to 20-block radius of the city. Loeb brought 25 years of restaurant management experience to the project, nearly as long as the 20 years since he founded his Santa Monica establishment.
The players
Josh Loeb
A long-time restaurateur and founder of Santa Monica's Rustic Canyon who transitioned into film production.
Conor Leslie
An actor who starred in the film and married fellow cast member Brett Dier.
Brett Dier
An actor who appeared in the film and married co-star Conor Leslie.
The details
The film centers on the relationship between an LA comedian and a local baker, utilizing real-world sites like Tabor Bread, Laurelhurst Park, and the restaurant Jeju. Loeb, who has owned a house in Sunnyside since he and partner Zoe Nathan began visiting in 2016, aimed to avoid typical city tropes. Actors Conor Leslie and Brett Dier appear in the film and married after meeting on the set.
Timeline
2016: Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan began taking trips to Portland.
October 9, 2026: The film opens at Living Room Theaters.
Beyond the Bridges
This project marks a departure from the Portland-based setting of the show Portlandia by attempting to show the city without relying on established tropes. It specifically ignores traditional urban grittiness or quirkiness in favor of a focused neighborhood study.
Residents can view the film starting today at the downtown Living Room Theaters. The story may be particularly recognizable to those familiar with the specific restaurants and parks featured in the Sunnyside area.
The takeaway
The film offers a hyper-local look at Southeast Portland, centered on a small pocket of the Sunnyside neighborhood. Keep an eye on local theater listings at Living Room Theaters to see how the director’s restaurant background influenced the visual portrayal of these familiar spots.
Further reading
For more on how local businesses and neighborhood culture shape the city, visit Food and Drink.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Axios.
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