RELATED: LOST & FOUND IN CLEVELAND: The American Dream Gets Appraised in Macedonia
By Julie D’Aloiso
As someone who lives in Macedonia, a suburb of Cleveland, seeing Lost & Found in Cleveland at B&B Theatres – Macedonia was a truly special experience. I went in curious, knowing it was filmed in Northeast Ohio, and walked out with my heart full. This charming film, inspired by antiques appraisals and the American Dream, weaves together the lives of five very different people over a single day in Cleveland. By the end, I felt like I had just watched a beautiful love letter to our region—and to the idea that our stories matter, no matter where we come from.
I especially loved how the movie showcased Cleveland itself. The Arcade looked absolutely magical on screen, with its warm light, ironwork, and glass—like stepping back in time, but with very real, modern emotions unfolding inside it. I also really enjoyed the scenes that highlighted Cleveland’s historic buildings and cultural spaces. The film captured the feeling of being surrounded by history—those places where architecture, memory and everyday life all overlap. It made me proud to see our area represented so beautifully, right down to the small details that locals recognize.
The ensemble cast is a huge part of why the film works so well. Martin Sheen isn’t on screen very much for most of the movie, but that makes his appearance near the end even more powerful. He steps in and delivers a long, poignant monologue that he absolutely nails. It pulls the themes of the film together and reminds you why he’s such a legend.
June Squibb is another standout for me. As someone who can relate to the challenges and quiet changes that come with getting older, I found her character especially moving. She brings such honesty and warmth to her role—there’s a mix of vulnerability, stubbornness, humor, and hard‑won wisdom that felt very real. In her quieter moments, you can feel a whole lifetime behind her eyes, and I saw pieces of myself and people I know in the way she navigates aging, memories, and what to hold onto.
Jon Lovitz, as the mayor, is a wonderful surprise—funny, offbeat, and oddly touching. He finds that perfect balance between humor and heart, and his scenes always got a reaction from the audience. Dennis Haysbert, Stacy Keach, Liza Weil, Santino Fontana, Loretta Devine, Esther Povitsky, Jeff Hiller, Dot‑Marie Jones, Yvette Yates Redick, Benjamin Steinhauser and the rest of the cast create a world that feels lived‑in and real. You believe these people have histories, and that the treasures they bring to be appraised are truly part of their lives.
If I’m being completely honest, there were a few moments in the middle where the film’s many storylines slowed down a bit. But I never felt like I wanted to give up on it—if anything, that quieter pacing gave me more time to sit with the characters and their hopes. And it absolutely pays off in the end. The finale is pure magic: emotional without being manipulative, heartfelt without being corny. It brought happy tears to my eyes. The way the appraisals ultimately reveal something deeper than price tags—about self‑worth, love, loss and second chances—felt incredibly moving and earned.
Knowing that this film was more than a decade in the making and that it shattered attendance records at the Cleveland International Film Festival makes it even more special. It truly feels like a homegrown story that grew into something bigger, while still staying rooted in the people and places of Northeast Ohio.
Lost & Found in Cleveland is funny, touching, and quietly inspiring. It reminded me that the objects we hold onto—and the dreams we haven’t given up on yet—are worth more than any official “appraisal.” I’m so glad I got to see it on the big screen here in Macedonia, and I’ll be thinking about its characters, and Cleveland’s beautiful presence in the film, for a long time.
After seeing the film, I was fascinated to learn more about how it was made. Filming wrapped in early 2023 entirely on location in Northeast Ohio, capturing dozens of real Cleveland-area spots to keep it authentic and rooted in the community. The production partnered with local brands like Sherwin‑Williams, Malley’s Chocolates, Discount Drug Mart and others, which pop up cleverly in the film and underline how homegrown this project really is. Writer-directors Marisa Guterman and Keith Gerchak drew inspiration from Antiques Roadshow and even research at the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, where they embraced the idea of The Wizard of Oz as an American Dream allegory in the Rust Belt. They filmed at places like the West Side Market, St. Stanislaus, the Nash in Slavic Village, the Western Reserve Historical Society, and Canton’s McKinley museum, layering the story with real local history. The movie had its world premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival and then broke a 50‑year attendance record at the Cleveland International Film Festival with 2,700 people at a single screening. On top of that, the score—by Sven Faulconer—is performed by a 50‑piece orchestra featuring musicians who’ve worked on films like La La Land, Oppenheimer, and John Williams projects. Knowing all of that made me appreciate even more how much care and love went into every frame.
It’s now playing nationwide this month—don’t miss it! For more, check out the official site LostAndFoundInCleveland.com.
If you would like to see in at the Macedonia B&B location, it is playing today and tomorrow.
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