“Leave Them Laughing. It’s a documentary about a stand-up comic who’s dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease.”
I think I sighed.
“But it’s supposed to be absolutely hilarious!” he quickly added.
This, I knew, was a movie I absolutely did not want to see.
Like a lot of people, I’ve had some medical miseries, and the last thing I wanted [...]
The 2010 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival ended with a weekend full of awards presentations to the top films and film makers this year. Many of these awards come with cash prizes that help both seasoned and emerging filmmakers continue to create the work that moves us. Among the films honoured this year were [...]
The magic of LEAVE THEM LAUGHING is not only in the story itself but in the way it is told. Living with ALS is often times a topic mainstream media hesitate to touch – it’s too depressing is the common reply. Usually that statement is true, unless you find those with a spirit to outshine [...]
The Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature was presented to Vancouver-based Academy Award-winning filmmaker John Zaritsky for LEAVE THEM LAUGHING (P: Montana Berg, Canada/USA), which follows mother, performer, and darkly funny smart-ass Carla Zilbersmith in her battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Jury statement: “The Special Jury Prize goes to a film about an unimaginably horrifying [...]
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 – [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
“At last night’s sneak peek screening of “Leave Them Laughing”, Carla Zilbersmith shows her roots in starring in that great Canadian art form of the documentary.The film is about one brave woman’s struggle with ALS, but I found it to be primarily a love story between a mother and her gifted teenage son, MacLen. As [...]
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 [...]
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