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This is one of those films that sounds like a drag but winds up being poignant and laugh-out-loud funny. Carla Zilbersmith has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease and is determined to make the most of the few years she has left. She also simply will not stop laughing about it. Talk about dark humour – [...] “We’re here for a good time (not a long time)” is the awesome Trooper song that accompanies one of the most vibrant scenes of LEAVE THEM LAUGHING – and how appropriate it is! Grand Prizes: Here, There & Everywhere: Carla Zilbersmith April 6, 2010 http://irom.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/here-there-everywhere-carla-zilbersmith/ I’ve written dozens of obituaries for the Los Angeles Times and elsewhere, some for close friends. No one, however, will write a better obituary for Carla Zilbersmith, who is experiencing the advanced stages of ALS, than she will do for herself. But an appreciation of the work of [...] I believe that many of the negative stereotypes of the disabled come from what the general public sees on their TV sets and in the movies. Often, news reports about someone with a disability paint them as either helpless and needy or as courageous and heroic. And the most unfortunate part is that these stereotypes [...] John Zaritsky explores the lighter side of death
Carla Zilbersmith in Zaritsky’s Leave Them Laughing. by Gavin Fisher Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 “My whole intention as a documentary filmmaker,” says the man sitting across from me, “was to do something totally unconventional, totally against all the classic kind of rules and traditional formats of documentary [...] Friday’s sneak peek fundraiser of Leave Them Laughing at the College of Marin was truly amazing. 500+ people filled the Fine Arts Theatre, the very place where Carla and her students used to perform their many shows. Lots of laughter echoed through the hall and moments of tears brought total silence as the film took [...] I met John Zaritsky and became familiar with his work 25 years ago. I have never been anything but impressed with the quality, thoughtfulness and accuracy of his documentary films. John’s films are well researched, directed and produced. Leave Them Laughing is no exception to the type of film one comes to expect [...] This 1-day conference will feature 15 of the world’s brightest minds speaking on important health, wellness and longevity topics that affect Zoomers, the population traditionally known as 45+. Johnny will be talking about many of his personal experiences as a filmmaker over the past 15 years. What led him to Sarajevo to do a film on the Bosnian [...]
Leave Them Laughing director John Zaritsky’s last film, The Wild Horse Redemption, took home 2 Geminis (Canada’s top national TV award) yesterday evening at the awards ceremony in Toronto – best photography and best original music score. We’re proud of you, Johnny. Well done! |
 Once a nationally-known performer of ballads, skits and self-parody, now fated by Lou Gehrig’s Disease to perish within months, the remarkable Carla Zilbersmith was diagnosed in 2007 and given less than four years to live. She will leave a teen-aged son, a few fans and students who adore her, and this 90-minute pre-mortem retrospective of a life lived fully, but far too fast. »More about "Leave Them Laughing"
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