Watch The Last Laugh

The Last Laugh is a 2016 documentary film directed by Ferne Pearlstein. The film stars Renee Firestone, Klara Firestone, and Gilbert Gottfried, among others. The movie's central theme is the question of whether the Holocaust can ever be funny. It includes interviews with Holocaust survivors and comedians as well as footage from comedy clubs and concentration camps.

The film is structured around a road trip taken by Renee Firestone, a Holocaust survivor, and Gilbert Gottfried, a comedian best known for his role as the voice of the parrot Iago in Disney's Aladdin. The two travel together to Florida for a gig at a retirement home, where they perform for a largely Jewish audience. Firestone, who lost her entire family in the Holocaust, is initially skeptical about the idea of making jokes about such an intense and terrible subject. Gottfried, on the other hand, maintains that comedy can be a way to cope with tragedy and that no subject should be off-limits.

Throughout the movie, we hear from other Holocaust survivors and comedians who have grappled with the same question. Some argue that humor is a way to reclaim agency and dignity in the face of unimaginable cruelty. Others believe that the Holocaust is simply too horrific to be funny, and that attempts to make light of it are tasteless and offensive.

The movie also explores the history of Jewish humor, from the Yiddish theater to the Borscht Belt to contemporary stand-up comedy. It examines how Jewish comedians have used humor to confront prejudice and oppression, as well as to address their own trauma and pain.

One of the most moving parts of the film is the footage from concentration camps, which serves as a powerful reminder of the horrors that took place. It is juxtaposed with clips from comedy routines, forcing the viewer to consider the uneasy relationship between laughter and tragedy.

Ultimately, The Last Laugh offers no easy answers. It is a complex and nuanced exploration of a difficult topic, and one that is sure to provoke intense discussion and debate. The film is beautifully shot and edited, with a mix of talking-head interviews, archival footage, and verité-style scenes of Firestone and Gottfried on the road. It is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a reminder that sometimes the only way to keep going in the face of unspeakable horror is to find something to laugh about.

Overall, The Last Laugh is a thought-provoking and moving documentary that tackles a difficult subject with sensitivity and intelligence. It is a testament to the power of humor in the face of adversity, and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility of hope.

The Last Laugh is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 71.